AFL players association chief executive Matt Finnis says the prospect of Essendon players taking legal action against the AFL club can't be ruled out.
Finnis says the Bombers' actions have compromised the careers, health and reputations of their players and appear to have breached their contractual obligations towards them.
The AFLPA boss wouldn't reveal whether he was aware of any players that are contemplating legal action, but said players were aware that it was an option and the association was willing to offer support.
"It's not our focus right now. You certainly couldn't rule it out," Finnis told reporters on Wednesday.
"As the collective representative of the players in their employment context that would be part of our responsibility."
He said the Bombers had owned up to failing to appropriately safeguard the health and welfare of players in accepting their penalty on Tuesday night.
Finnis said they had also conceded to exposing players to the risk of taking banned substances and being unable to give players guarantees about what they were administered.
"As a result of these failings Essendon Football Club players are placed in the most disturbing of positions, where their very careers, health and reputations have been compromised," Finnis said.
He said dealing with resulting player health and safety concerns and the ongoing Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation were the AFLPA's most urgent priorities.
But if players at some stage want to opt out of their Essendon contracts, they could have grounds to do so, Finnis suggested.
"On its face, there's been failings of the contractual obligations of the club and at a point in time it would be very appropriate that those are considered as well," he said.
"Players may choose to exercise those rights but I think that's something that will come further down the track."
He said the association was working with the Bombers and the AFL on a long-term plan to monitor the effects of substances taken by players at the club last season.
"It must be robust, because such a protocol needs to exist beyond the timespan of the leadership of the current AFL, club and AFLPA personnel, so we must get that right from the start," Finnis said.
