Essendon have apologised for the roughshod manner in which they went about trying to recruit top-up players from the SANFL.
After agreeing to speak to the clubs concerned in the first instance, the Bombers went ahead and contacted potential recruits for their makeshift NAB Challenge side directly.
On Tuesday, the club went as far as to announce that former Crow Jared Petrenko and delisted Demon Mitch Clisby had verbally agreed to temporary contracts, much to the dismay of their respective local clubs Woodville-West Torrens and North Adelaide.
SANFL boss Jake Parkinson convened an emergency meeting of club chief executives and football managers on Wednesday to canvass their concerns.
While he said many questions remained about the recruiting process, he reported that the Bombers had at least seen the error of their ways.
"Essendon have rung and expressed their apologies for the way that they went about that," Parkinson told Adelaide radio station FiveAA.
"(They) will continue to work with the SANFL clubs to understand exactly what needs to be considered as we go through this process."
All 25 players who were on Essendon's list in 2012 are standing out of the NAB Challenge while up to 18 of them await the outcome of the AFL's anti-doping tribunal.
As a result, the Bombers are scouring the country for up to 20 players so they can field a team in the pre-season competition and even the home-and-away season should suspensions be handed out.
Parkinson said the SANFL had been proactive in setting up a framework for Essendon to approach potential recruits.
"We made sure that they were clear on the communication channels and that they needed to show due respect to the (SANFL) clubs who have these players contracted to them," he said.
"We're disappointed after having reached agreement with them that that process wasn't followed."
The SANFL continues to have concerns over issues like insurance, medical and the indefinite length of time that temporary players will stay with the Bombers, but Parkinson said clubs would not stand in the way.
"Whilst being frustrated at a lack of clarity, what was foremost (at today's meeting) was `what is best for the player'," he said.
"SANFL clubs really know these players and they can talk them through their options.
"If the best option for the player is to have another go at AFL football, and the club is able to work through that in the right manner, then the clubs are not going to stand in the way - they just want to be informed."
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