Rival AFL clubs are urging Essendon to bring their supplements saga to an end but Bombers’ great Tim Watson says they are being hypocritical.

Fairfax Media reports Essendon have lost the support of all 17 rival clubs over their handling of the AFL-ASADA investigation into the club’s use of supplements in 2012.

“We all agree this has gone on for too long,” Watson told Radio SEN on Tuesday.

“But why would anyone admit guilt and carry a stain of being a drug cheat just so this goes away and it becomes convenient for people?

“(Clubs are saying) ‘just let it go away so we can get on with our lives’.

“I can tell you right now if that was their club, if this was their group of players, they would be thinking completely and entirely differently than what they are.

“No one is over this Essendon supplement scandal more than the players, the families of the players and the Essendon Football Club.

“But that doesn’t mean, as some would suggest, just take a deal so it can all end.”

Essendon and coach James Hird went to the Federal Court to test the legality of last year’s joint AFL-ASADA investigation into the club’s 2012 supplements program.

However last week, Justice John Middleton handed down a verdict in which he comprehensively ruled against Hird and the club.

ASADA is free now to proceed with show-cause notices against 34 current and former Essendon players, with the potential for player bans.

The anti-doping body is 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.

AFL Players’ Association chief Paul Marsh said on Monday that the players, having not seen the evidence against them, wouldn’t be considering cutting deals with ASADA.

“ASADA has dragged its feet. In fact, it still hasn’t produced the evidence the players can respond to,” added Watson, whose son Jobe is Essendon’s captain.

Hird and Essendon have until October 10 to decide whether they will appeal against Justice Middleton’s ruling.