Former Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray will launch an appeal against his one-year suspension - but only as part of wider group action by the AFL Players Association.

Lovett-Murray's manager Peter Jess dismissed a report on Friday claiming the former defender would go it alone against the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"That's not right - it's completely wrong. Nathan had to lodge papers with the AFLPA by 2pm on Tuesday whether he would be part of an appeal with the AFLPA," Jess told Fairfax Media on Friday.

"He did that - as we have had said all along he would do. But he is not going alone. Where would he get the lawyers and barristers and funding needed to do that in Switzerland?"

Essendon doctor Bruce Reid has also taken umbrage with the report, and is believed to have threatened defamation action.

The AFLPA has yet to publicly declare whether it will appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on behalf of the 34 players. Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon, also a lawyer, has led the investigation into whether it would be worth launching another expensive case. Any hearing would not be heard until later in the year - at the earliest.

If there is an appeal, and the players were to lose, their bans would begin again from that point. It's understood not all players are in favour of an appeal.

As revealed by Fairfax Media, Lovett-Murray is launching an independent compensation bid against the Bombers, with sports lawyer Tony Nolan, QC, heading his case. Lawyer Chris Pollard, who once worked for the AFL Coaches Association, is also involved.

Compensation claims against the Bombers - the club has insurance to help cover this - could top more than $30 million.

More to come