The scars of the Essendon doping saga are claimed to have played a role in Jake Melksham being fined $10,000 for giving misleading information to AFL investigators during a probe into activity on his betting account.
Outgoing AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick has launched a staunch defence of the league's handling of the Essendon supplements saga, saying history will back the action taken against the Bombers.
Essendon head into the first game of 2017 with up to half a team of players who've been out of the game for a year. How do they fit in to the new Bombers order? We take a look on a case-by-case basis.
There will be a mix of the old and the new for Essendon in their captivating round one clash against Hawthorn with No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath joining six previously banned Bombers in the line-up.
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell says the Bombers must guard against lingering jealousy as returning players face a fight for spots in the best 22.
Bombers deny calling in enforcer Mick Gatto as police investigate allegations ex-player Dean Wallis made demanding calls to senior club and AFL officials.
David Zaharakis has bemoaned attacks directed at James Hird, suggesting that anyone who has chosen to "barrage" Hird in relation to the Essendon supplements saga in recent times is "just not a good person".
A push to hold a Senate inquiry into how the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and AFL conducted an investigation into the Essendon supplements saga appears dead.
AFL boss says "nothing new" in expletive-laden recording of Essendon leaders accusing league of recanting on promise not to punish players for doping.
Melbourne lawyer Jackson Taylor has lodged a writ against outgoing AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and chief executive Gillon McLachlan, alleging acts of deceptive or misleading conduct during Essendon's supplements saga.
Essendon star Brendon Goddard and James Hird's former advisor have taken a swipe at Mike Fitzpatrick on a day the departing AFL chairman said he had no regrets over how the league had handled the Bombers' supplements scandal.
An Essendon fan whose work revolves around football was asked in passing conversation during the week how he thought the Bombers would fare in 2017. "They'll finish somewhere between 2nd and 16th," he said.
Stewart Crameri feels a strange mix, rusty but fresh, as he returns from his season supplements suspension to join the Bulldogs premiership defence.
Former Essendon chairman David Evans has made a quiet return to the Bombers that was as understated as it was unexpected. Evans was another face in small crowd at a recent practice match.
Essendon great Kevin Sheedy has launched an impassioned defence of James Hird and has called for patience in his recovery from an overdose.
AFL Players' Association chief Paul Marsh says the union has reached out to offer its support to James Hird.
Unrelenting pressure on a sporting field or a coaching box is one thing. But that ceases, at least temporarily, when the game is over.
Travis Colyer walked back to his car, got in, but didn't drive home straight away.
Despite being banned from the game for a year, Dyson Heppell has learned plenty. Now, he's even more qualified to take over as Essendon captain should the opportunity arise.
ASADA has taken aim at disgraced sports scientist Stephen Dank after his appeal against a lifetime ban from sport was formally thrown out by the AFL Appeal Board on Monday.
Stephen Dank would not explain why he he failed to provide any paperwork to the AFL anti-doping appeal board before his deadline on Friday, but remained insistent the panel would eventually hear his case.
The compensation claims against the Essendon Football Club over the supplements saga continue to progress, as 18 players settle with the club.
Controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank says he intends to front the AFL appeals board and believes he can still clear the 34 banned Essendon players.
Stephen Dank's appeal hearing has been postponed until December 1, after the controversial sports scientist failed to attend the hearing on Monday morning.
AFL appeals board chairman Peter O'Callaghan, QC, will allow oral testimony at Monday's hearing with Stephen Dank, although Dank and his lawyers remain unaware of this.
For Essendon midfielder and leader David Myers, a 12-month suspension over the supplements saga has not only proved a blessing in disguise, but offered a brighter perspective on life as a professional footballer.
Stephen Dank, the architect of the Essendon supplements program, is set to appear before the AFL appeals board on Monday but is angry no oral submissions will be allowed.
This was a decision the AFL Commission would have agonised over - but in the end the right call was made to award the 2012 Brownlow Medal retrospectively to Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin.
Jobe Watson says he is still hurting from his agonising call to cede his 2012 Brownlow Medal, as former teammates said they were "shattered" for the Essendon captain.
Football should do what it can to make Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin's Brownlow Medal moment one to cherish.
Jobe Watson is yet to come to a decision on whether or not to fight for the 2012 Brownlow medal that could be stripped from him next week.
Essendon will meet with Jobe Watson's management this week as both parties prepare for the historic November 15 AFL Commission meeting at which the fate of Watson's 2012 Brownlow medal will be decided.
Prominent lawyer David Galbally says he cannot find a legal route for Jobe Watson to retain his Brownlow Medal.
Lawyers representing the Essendon 34 claim the comments of ASADA Chief Executive Ben McDevitt following the failed appeal to the Swiss court are incorrect.
The clear appeal loss that stamps 34 Essendon footballers with doping offences for life has been termed "not a real surprise" to the sports arbiter the AFL players challenged in a faraway court. In light of the finding, secretary general of the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, Matthieu Reeb, has told Fairfax Media the Bomber players' challenge appeared doomed from the outset.
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