The AFL's anti-doping tribunal will hand down its findings on 34 past and present Essendon players on March 31, four days before the Bombers' season opener against Sydney.
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Tribunal chairman David Jones has told the players, the AFL and ASADA that the players who took part in the club's 2012 injection program will know their fate before the start of the home and away season. 17 of those players remain on the Bombers' list and have stood out of the NAB Challenge, along with Stewart Crameri at the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide's Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries.
Should the players be found guilty of taking the banned substance Thymosin beta 4 as ASADA has alleged, they will almost certainly appeal, meaning the saga will continue to run into the 2015 season proper. If exonerated by chairman Jones at a specially convened session in the County Court they will be free to play in round one.
