The Essendon case is only one of several issues to go before the AFL Commission at Monday’s meeting.

Another controversial item will be the commission’s final decision on an interchange cap for next season.

On Friday, the AFL Players’ Association said they opposed any cap on interchange rotations, saying they could see no good reason why such a limit should be introduced.

The AFL has trialled interchange caps during the pre-season and is adamant they will come in permanently next year.

A boom in interchange rotations over the last few seasons has prompted the AFL to bring in the cap.

But it sparked a fierce debate in the game, with many coaches vehemently opposed to the idea.

The AFL originally considered setting the cap at 80 per team in a match, well down on the current average of around 130.

But it is understood the more likely number will be around 120.

“It’s an arbitrary number, isn’t it?,” North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said after Saturday’s loss to Hawthorn.

“There’s no science to back it up whatsoever, so they’re going to select a number based on not much at all.

“I’ve said for a long time, I don’t really care what it is.

“If it’s 80, 100, 120, 140 – 500 – it doesn’t worry us.

“Just tell us as soon as possible and we’ll work to it.”

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson similarly accepts a cap is coming, but is wary of what effect it will have.

“If it’s a dramatic change to the game, then I’m not really certain anyone knows what the outcome of a significant change in terms of a cap will have on the competition,” Clarkson said.

Clarkson wants a higher cap as a first step, rather than a more draconian number.

“If that ceiling is regulated then I think somewhere around 120 or 130 is a good thing to have a look at,” he said.

“Then it can either be relaced after that and go back to 140 or it can be tightened a little bit and go down to 100 or 110.

“But I think if you’re too dramatic in your change then it’s a hard thing to come back from.”