Essendon doping accused split over public hearings, AFL anti-doping tribunal hears
The 34 past and present Essendon players charged with doping are split over whether their tribunal hearings should be open to the media.
A lawyer representing 32 of the players told the AFL's anti-doping tribunal the cases should be heard behind closed doors to protect their privacy.
But lawyers representing two other players said the media should be given access to allow public confidence in the process.
The arguments were made at a directions hearing in Melbourne, which will decide when the tribunal will sit to consider the charges against the 34 players.
The date for the hearing has been tentatively set for December 15, but a statement from tribunal chairman David Jones said they will meet again on December 8 "to finalise procedural matters".
The identities of the 34 players remain confidential.
Melbourne lawyer Justin Quill made a submission on behalf of several media outlets, arguing journalists should be allowed inside the hearings.
"This case has been fraught with speculation, innuendo, rumour, the whole way along," he said outside the tribunal.
"Ultimately an open hearing would hopefully restore some of the public confidence in the process and the integrity of the game."
The AFL was also keen for the hearings to be open, but the AFL Players Association and ASADA want them to remain private.
The tribunal heard that no doping case in Australia has ever been open to the media.
"If ever there was a case that would allow an open hearing, this would be it," Mr Quill said.
The 34 past and present players have been charged with taking the banned peptide thymosin-beta-4 as part of the club's supplements program in 2012 and 2013.
