Essendon says it’s surprised the World Anti-Doping Agency has decided to appeal the ruling handed down by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal.

The club became aware of WADA’s move early this morning.

"It's a distraction but we'll get through it and we'll prove our innocence again,” Essendon Coach James Hird said. 

The AFL Anti-Doping tribunal ruled in March that it was not comfortably satisfied the players took Thymosin Beta-4.

"The decision was very comprehensive. That surprised us that they appealed, but they have, so again we have to deal with it," Hird said. 

"I think everyone around the club and around Melbourne thought this wouldn't happen, but it has so we have to deal with it.”

The decision to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport comes at a delicate time in the Bombers season.

The club sits in 11^th spot on the ladder but is just one win out of second position. 

They face an important match against North Melbourne on Friday night. 

"It's business as usual for us. We've been through it once, we're going through it again. We believe we've got a good football team and we have to win Friday night," Hird said.

"We're ready to tackle whatever comes. We've tackled it, we've played good football around it, we're confident in our football team and we'll deal with it as it comes. 

"There's no doubt it will cause stress again, but we're prepared to go through it. We believe in the players' innocence. They've been proven innocent once, and they'll be proven innocent again.” 

Captain Jobe Watson said the players have become well versed in drawn out legal proceedings over recent seasons. 

The players will meet with lawyers this week to see what their next move is.

“Given we were found to be not guilty already, you can only put the faith in the judicial system again,” Watson said.

“It was always a possibility that the side that lost was going to appeal.

“The club has stayed firm, the playing group have held together and we have had incredible support from our fans.”