Thirty-four past and present Essendon players involved in the controversial supplements scandal have been found not guilty by the AFL anti-doping tribunal.
The not guilty finding frees up to 17 current Bombers players to line up in Saturday's round one match against Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
Three other former Essendon players now at other clubs - Port Adelaide duo Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries and Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri - can also play in round one.
The Bombers were forced to pick makeshift teams during the pre-season competition as the the players involved in the supplements case were all provisionally suspended.
Australia's peak sports anti-doping body (ASADA) is now expected to appeal the tribunal's finding
"We all had a very fair hearing and we're happy with the result, obviously," Grace said.
"We're now going to go and see the players and discuss the judgment with them.
"No one has read the reasons for the decision, so we're going to be considering that."
There was no immediate word on whether ASADA will appeal, but this is likely.
The three-man tribunal jury's verdict is said to be unanimous.
There was also no immediate word on the fate of former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank, who was also before the tribunal.
Asked what avenues this might open up for the players, Grace replied: "the players will be playing this week, that's the avenue."
"We mounted a very strong defence to the case and the result is here today."
Asked about further legal action, Grace said: "I cannot say whether there's going to be any further legal action.
"We're going to see the players now and talk to them.
"I think all they will be interested in is playing on Saturday (in the round-one game against Sydney).
"It is nice to get an outcome for them (the players)."
Players just want to move on: Watson
"All we wanted to know was the truth and we were honest about everything that we knew".
Captain Jobe Watson says the players just want to move on. Watson said the players were all completely open in their interviews.
"We were totally open books about the whole process," he said.
"All we wanted to know was the truth and we were honest about everything that we knew".
"We hid nothing from anyone."
Essendon's Jobe Watson during a press conference in Melbourne. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING
Asked if he knew what he was given and was comfortable with it, Watson said: "What I do know is that every player told exactly what they knew to the investigating officers."
"I don't think you sit comfortably with this. I don't think it sits comfortably at all."
The AFL Players Association says the tribunal decision does not absolve the Essendon Football Club of blame.
Watson said the players did find it concerning.
"I think the players and anyone involved feels if when you go to your employer and they can't tell you exactly what went on, that's concerning.
"I think the players are well within their right to have had anger over a period of time, to be concerned about that".
"But I know that the playing group want to move on."
He says Bombers fans had supported the players group through the worst period in its history and the toughest period of any club in the history of the AFL.
"I think a lot of clubs perhaps would have fallen down but with the support that we've had from the loyal fans that we have and the strength of this playing group we've held together."
Watson said he hadn't thought about the issue of compensation or the talk that his 2012 Brownlow Medal could have been taken away if the players had been found guilty.
"I haven't really thought about it being taken away because if you believe you're not guilty of something it doesn't really enter your mind," he said.
"For all of us, what we believed was that we weren't guilty and that we would exhaust every avenue possible to prove that."
Share
