Essendon recruit James Gwilt says he hasn't noticed any Bombers players served with infraction notices "being down" as their cases head to the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal on Tuesday.
Nearly two years after the supplements scandal broke, the 34 past and present Essendon players who were recently placed on the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel's register of findings are edging closer to having their cases heard.
A directions hearing will take place at Etihad Stadium late on Tuesday, setting the timeframe for future hearings.
Speaking after running a 2km time trial with the Bombers' senior group at Princes Park, ex-Saint Gwilt said Essendon's players remained upbeat despite the latest developments in the supplements saga.
"The spirit's been really good, the same as any old football club," Gwilt said.
"They're happy to get stuck into training first day back, and the boys have been really great for me and I haven't noticed anything, them being down or anything like that."
Gwilt, who played 126 games for St Kilda before being cut at the end of last season, chose to join the Bombers after also attracting interest from Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney during the delisted free agency period.
The lure of finals football helped sway the 28-year-old, who said he gave little thought to the chance some of his new teammates might be suspended next season.
"Not really, because it's the unknown," Gwilt said. "It didn't really cross my mind when I wanted to make a decision to come here.
"Obviously playing with BJ (Brendon Goddard) again was really good motivation for me to come to the Bombers and once I knew that Hirdy (coach James Hird) and the Bombers were interested in me I was like 'Yeah, I really want to get there'."
Having initially wondered if he would find a second home, the 188cm utility said he was keen to prove himself at his new club.
Gwilt has played most of his career in the backline, but with the Bombers stacked with tall defenders he might also be swung forward next season.
"I'll play wherever they need me to play, so I'm pretty happy to play either end," he said.
"I've got to win the respect of all the boys by training hard and putting my head over the footy, so I'm just going to try and do that from session to session and see how it goes."
Gwilt, who was recruited from Noble Park in Melbourne's Eastern Football League with pick 63 in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, made a solid start to pre-season by running "about 6.40-odd" in the 2km time trial.
Veteran midfielder Brent Stanton came back in top shape and took the honours ahead of David Zaharakis and Travis Colyer, who tied for second.
Irish recruit Conor McKenna ran an impressive fourth ahead of Jake Melksham.
