The AFL Commission has granted a request from Essendon club doctor Bruce Reid for a public hearing.
But Reid’s lawyers have said he will launch Supreme Court action after his bid to have his case heard by an independent arbiter was denied.
The AFL and Reid are again at stalemate after more than four hours of talks on Thursday.
The league announced later that the case was adjourned until October 3.
Dr Reid is facing AFL charges related to conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.
His case was held over from Tuesday night, when the league announced unprecedented sanctions against Essendon, coach James Hird, senior assistant Mark Thompson and club football manager Danny Corcoran.
Dr Reid is particularly determined to prove his innocence because of his reputation as a medical practitioner.
Soon after his talks with the AFL reached a stalemate again, the club released a statement attributed to legal firm Perry Maddocks Trollope.
“Dr Bruce Reid applied today for the AFL Commission to refer the hearing of this matter under the powers conferred by the AFL rules to take place before an independent and qualified person such as a recently retired Supreme Court judge,” the statement read.
“The commissioners dismissed the application.
“Counsel for Dr Reid applied for a prompt release of the transcript of argument and the commissioners’ ruling to enable the early issue of Supreme Court proceedings seeking judicial review of the decision and the appointment of a recently retired Supreme Court judge to hear and decide the charges against Dr Reid.
“Dr Reid is adamant that he is innocent and wishes to defend the allegations against him in a public hearing.”
The AFL later said a commission sub-committee of chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, Justice Linda Dessau and Paul Bassat had denied Dr Reid’s request for an independent person, such as a retired Supreme Court judge, to hear the charges.
“Dr Reid also applied for any hearing of the charge against him to be in public. The sub-Committee granted this application,” the league announced.
On Tuesday night Essendon were taken out of the finals, fined $2 million and has lost draft picks.
Hird was suspended for 12 months, while Corcoran was suspended for four months and Thompson was fined $30,000.
Reid’s case has added importance to him because of his reputation as a medical practitioner.
He has been Essendon’s club doctor for more than 30 years.