Essendon have suffered a devastating Federal Court setback as they continue to fight battles on several fronts over the AFL club’s supplements scandal.

Justice John Middleton comprehensively ruled against the Bombers and coach James Hird, who had challenged the legality of last year’s joint AFL-ASADA investigation.

Friday’s judgement means ASADA can now go ahead with show cause notices against 34 current and former Essendon players, with the potential for anti-doping bans.

ASADA are yet to confirm how long the players will have to respond to the show-cause notices, but it is understood to be 10 or 14 days.

The Federal Court has confirmed Essendon and Hird have 21 days – with a deadline of October 10 – to consider appealing.

But the show cause notices are far from Essendon’s only problem.

* An appeal would add to the club’s mounting legal costs and has the potential to cause unrest among Essendon fans.

* The ruling means Hird’s future as Essendon coach is again in the spotlight.

* Essendon are trying to convince ruckman Paddy Ryder, one of their most important players, not to break ranks and defect to another club.

* Former Essendon fitness chief Dean Robinson is continuing legal action against the club, claiming he was made a scapegoat during last year’s fallout from the supplements program.

Hird and ‘Dons chairman Paul Little were grim-faced outside the court as they briefly spoke to the media after Justice Middleton released his findings.

“Essendon is understandably very disappointed at today’s Federal Court decision,” Little said, reading from a statement.

“Obviously it’s one that we now need to go away and deliberate, work through the findings and then determine whether or not we will want to go to an appeal.

“In taking our proceedings, our priority has always been to protect and vindicate the legal rights of our players.

“The club maintains its confidence that on all the evidence that we have at our disposal, neither harmful nor banned substances were given to our players during the 2012 season.”

Little added they would not comment further until a decision was made.

“As a respect to the competition and the other clubs still competing this season, it is not our intention to provide any further commentary on this matter,” he said.

Hird would not comment on his coaching future.

“I’m very disappointed for the players,” he said.

“This is about the players and we’re very disappointed for our players.”

Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who oversaw the supplements program, attended Friday’s court hearing.

But he left without comment, as did Hird’s wife Tania.