The Essendon Football Club today clarified its position on the issue of medical costs for Adam Ramanauskas' cancer treatment being included in Total Player Payments (TTP).

Chief Executive Officer, Peter Jackson, said Essendon never formally applied for these costs to be excluded from TPP. The Club had informal discussions with the AFL and agreed based on the rule interpretation that if the club paid these expenses they would rightly be included in the TPP.

""In 2004, when the full extent of Adam's condition became clear, we contacted the AFL to seek clarification around the rules for non-football related medical conditions,"" Mr Jackson said.

""The AFL confirmed that the medical bills for non-football related injuries would be included in TPP, if paid for by the club, which was already was our understanding of the rules.

""We did not lodge a request with the AFL to have his costs made exempt from the salary cap or ask for the rules to be changed or for a special case to be made for Adam.

""We understand the rule is designed to be clear and avoid debate or confusion over what a football injury is and what will or wont be included in TTP. There have been cases previously of this club, and other clubs, not paying the medical expenses for a player with non-football injuries.

""As a result, Adam looked after the gap between his costs and what he received back from his private medical insurance, as would anyone else employed by the club in the same situation. This is why AFL players have private health cover and, because of this insurance, the financial cost to Adam was significantly reduced.

""Essendon treated the matter the same as we would for any staff member.""

Mr Jackson said Adam was on a full playing contract at the time and Essendon decided to honour that contract despite Adam being unable to fulfil his obligations as an active player. He was also subsequently re-contracted and that contract also honoured when Adam unfortunately required a second round of treatment.

""The AFL has shown support for Adam and the Essendon Football Club by making a change to the rules to allow us to place him on the rookie list despite not meeting certain criteria,"" he said.

""As for the recent decision about Ben Cousins' medical costs, this is a matter for the AFL.""