An anti-doping suspension would be a stain Essendon players would carry "for life", but their former coach Mark Thompson expects the 34 past and present Bombers facing accusations they took a banned substance to avoid lengthy suspensions.
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Thompson fears a "farcical" start to the home-and-away season should a large group of present Bombers players be suspended by the AFL anti-doping tribunal, and the club forced to compete with teams similar to those fielded during the NAB Challenge.
However, the Essendon great is optimistic that the fallout from this week's landmark decision will not be as severe for the Bombers as many in the industry predict, saying: "I think we've been through all the pain".
The Bombers players, dubbed the "Essendon 34", will find out on Tuesday whether the anti-doping tribunal have found them innocent or guilty – to a "comfortable satisfaction" – of being administered the banned substance thymosin beta-4 (TB4) during the 2012 supplements regime run by controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.
Even if players are found guilty under that burden of proof, and then later suspended, Thompson said he did not believe the story would end there, insisting the players would explore other avenues to clear their names.
"I just don't think the players are going to accept it," said Thompson, Essendon's 1993 premiership captain.
"I think they've got to prove, conclusively, 100 per cent, beyond reasonable doubt in the players' mind," he said.
"I know the panel that will be making the decision doesn't have to do that, but from the players' point of view, you would want to know that you actually did have the substance if you are going to accept any suspension and be listed.
"Because that's for life."
Thompson also added: "I think if they feel like they're innocent and done nothing wrong, and the evidence is not conclusive, then I think you'll find that the players won't take one for the team.
"I think they're over that now. They are not going to take one so that other people can get outcomes."
Thompson accepted a fine of $30,000 from the AFL in August, 2013 for his part in the supplements saga.
He went on to coach the Bombers in 2014, leading them to the finals while filling in for suspended coach James Hird. Thompson left the club before this season after the two parties could not agree on a job for him to perform.
A few days ago, Thompson reiterated in a television interview he regrets that his attempts to stop the injecting program were unsuccessful, but speaking to Fairfax Media on Sunday, the two-time premiership coach said he was at peace with his actions during his time at Essendon.
"Whatever happens, I know that I've been dealt with," he said.
"And even though I wasn't completely happy, I actually understand everything and I know that when I look at myself in the mirror every morning that I'm actually happy with my part in the whole thing.
"And nothing will change that."
Asked if he feared for what further damage could be inflicted on the club's reputation should the Bombers be forced to field a significantly weaker team due to mass suspensions to players, Thompson said the situation would be "farcical".
"It's meant to be a competition, which means two teams competing to win," he said.
"No team would be a chance to win if they were without their best players, like Essendon would be."
However, Thompson does not think Essendon players would receive lengthy suspensions, predicting "I think Essendon would be all right".
"I might be an optimist, I might be viewing it the wrong way, but I just don't think it's going to be as big as some people are making it out to be," he said of the possible fallout from the case.
"Based on what I know and what I've read and heard on the radio and TV, they [ASADA] seem to be struggling to get any real evidence.
"And you would hope that they [the anti-doping tribunal] can't adjudicate severely against the players if they are not 100 per cent sure."
Thompson again slammed ASADA for the length of time since they first launched the investigation nearly 26 months ago, albeit that there have been other delays outside of ASADA's control.
"I know ASADA say there is a lot of paperwork involved and report writing, and intelligence and stuff like that," Thompson said.
"But, seriously, I don't think they've thought much about the mental state of players and how much damage that can do."
