Melbourne captain Nathan Jones says the entire AFL system has compassion for players under a cloud from the anti-doping investigation.
After a 16-month investigation into supplement use at Essendon in 2012, 34 players were reportedly issued "show cause" notices on Thursday afternoon.
A protracted assessment process, and potentially legal action, awaits, with the prospect of two-year playing bans now a clear possibility.
Jones said he had put himself in the shoes of the affected players, and had sympathy.
"You feel for the position they're in," he said.
"I don't think any player envies them, there's a lot of compassion amongst the entire playing group across the AFL for the Essendon players.
"Hopefully they can come to a resolution pretty soon and we can all move on from it."
Jones said the way that the Bombers playing group had stuck together had earned his respect.
"They've found themselves in a really awkward position," he said.
"One thing I've really admired from the outset is how strong they've been and how united they've been as a footy club.
"That's the only way they're going to get through that."
Jones said he had second guessed situations which could have had a similar repercussions for himself.
"From what I know (Essendon players) put a lot of faith in the club and players have found themselves trusting the footy club," he said.
"You probably backtrack to similar positions that you've been in with medical staff, and check whether you'd ask questions.
"The responsibility lays with the individual ... it's made the whole footy competition stand up."
He dismissed the notion the Demons, who play Essendon at the MCG on Sunday, had run into the Bombers at the right time.
"Their track record in being able to put hardships behind them ... and perform, we really respect them for that," he said
"We expect them to come out this weekend with that same resilience and that same fight and make an important stand."
"We'll be prepared for that."
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