The AFL is pleading for patience from fans, admitting there is no clear indication when the Essendon supplements scandal will become history.
The league's anti-doping tribunal is now deciding the fates of 34 current and past Essendon players who were charged after a joint AFL-ASADA investigation.
The scandal has dragged on for more than two years.
Once the tribunal verdicts - and potentially penalties - are known, there could be appeals to the international Court of Arbitration of Sport.
The AFL commission is letting Essendon use player top ups while the charged players sit out the NAB Challenge.
If those charged players from the 2012 list are found guilty and suspended, the top up arrangement could extend into the regular season.
"It's challenging, no doubt," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said of the saga.
"All I would say is we, like all our supporters ... want this finished.
"We're doing everything we can and that's in our control to do that.
"We ask for the patience and the foresight, for people to understand that this is an unprecedented situation.
"In the end, our priority for this is the players, getting them through this very difficult situation."
In a related development, the Victorian WorkCover Authority has cleared nine of the Victorian AFL clubs of breaching occupational health and safety rules.
But the authority is continuing to investigate Essendon and the AFL.
The authority has been acting on complaints filed in the wake of the supplements scandal.
"We obviously have a watching brief," McLachlan said.
"I don't have any particular concerns, I don't have any information that says we have a specific concern.
"But they're going through a process and I think they're about halfway through - nine clubs I think have been ticked off.
"Until that's all done, it's obviously ... a slight concern, but hopefully it's all procedural."
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