The AFL has charged the GWS Giants with "conduct unbecoming" over the Lachie Whitfield affair.
GWS officials will front the AFL Commission on December 13.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
Whitfield ban harsher than just six months
Gillon McLachlan explains because of the ASADA sanctions against Whitfield, his six month ban from playing means no club contact for four of those months.
The club released a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying it would contest the charge at the December hearing.
"The club regards any potential sanction stemming from this charge as unwarranted and inappropriate given the admissions by the former staff members that they acted outside their authority," the statement said.
![The Giants will front the commission on December 13.](/web/20161124110301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/k/1/7/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gswl5v.png/1479964328971.jpg)
"As reflected in the AFL sanctions for all three individuals, it has been established that the former staff members acted outside of their authority in managing circumstances and taking matters into their own hands. Their handling of the matter was independent of the club and did not conform with the clearly established club protocols, thus in no way relating to a governance failure on behalf of the club.
"The club takes integrity matters extremely seriously and has cooperated fully with the AFL on this matter from the outset."
The Giants were facing the loss of prime player selections in this year's draft, but will not lose draft picks in 2016. The draft will take place on Friday.Â
Whitfield (six months) and former Giants officials Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert (one year each) were banned by the AFL for their roles in the affair.
The AFL has been determined to punish the club for its role, but AFL chiefs Gillon McLachlan and Andrew Dillon have been frustrated at the legal threats targeting the league, led by GWS chief Dave Matthews, given their efforts in negotiating Whitfield down to a six-month suspension when he faced four years out of the game.
The Whitfield saga has placed the league bosses at serious odds with former AFL executive  Matthews, who has stood firm on his legal threat, a position the league has viewed as farcical given its financial control over the club.
McLachlan flagged an imminent decision earlier on Thursday.
"I think the candid answer is that we've clearly been in some discussions with GWS – amicable discussions – and whatever happens there will be a resolution today," McLachlan told reporters from the SCG.
"I'm not going to speculate on (those discussions), I don't think that's appropriate. We're having discussions and that will be resolved, one way or the other, today.
"I'm not going to comment any further other than to say that it's appropriate that there's resolution and clarity before tomorrow."
MORE TO COME