Hird staggered by potential charges
A defiant Essendon coach James Hird says he'd be "staggered and shocked" if the AFL decided to lay charges based on the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's interim report into the club's 2012 supplement program
"None of our players has shown they've taken performance enhancing drugs; none of our players has shown that they've been been harmed by anything that's been given," he told reporters outside his Melbourne home on Tuesday.
"We're dealing with an interim report. The report's not finalised.
"We're all sitting back staggered and shocked that any charges could possibly be laid on those points.
"Our football club is the greatest football club in Australia and we're going to protect its name."
Essendon is expected to find out on Tuesday if the club or individuals will be charged by the AFL over their suspect supplements program.
The AFL received ASADA's interim report more than a week ago.
There has been speculation that no specific anti-doping charges will be brought against players under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code but the AFL could still heavily punish the Bombers under its own rules.