The 34 past and present Essendon players serving bans for anti-doping violations are expected to appeal the court of arbitration for sport ruling against them.

Bombers chairman Lindsay Tanner said on Wednesday he understood that each player who received a 12-month ban would plead their case at the swiss federal tribunal.

“We feel as a club we have an obligation to support the players,” Tanner said. “It’s ultimately their choice to initiate an appeal. My understanding is that they’ve all chosen to be part of that.

“The legal advice, I understand, indicates that their prospects for success are at least reasonable.”

The deadline for the submission of the appeal is close of business on Wednesday, Swiss time, according to the AFL’s website, meaning any of the 34 can opt out of the appeal before the official paperwork is lodged.

The appeal is likely to take place later this year and given the length of the process, Tanner said he did not expect the players to take the field this season, even if the appeal were successful.

“So in other words, they have effectively opted to accept the penalty that has been imposed on them because I gather the Swiss proceedings will take some months,” he said.

“The sitting out the season penalty has been effectively absorbed, is my understanding. What they’re seeking to do is clear their name.”

CAS in January upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal of the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s initial not guilty verdict that cleared the players of doping offences arising from the club’s controversial supplements program during the 2012 season.

Twelve of the original list of 34 players are still with Essendon, who have begun the recruitment process to fill the holes in their squad before the 2016 season starts in late March.

Guardian services