Essendon coach James Hird’s lawyer and Bombers officials Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and Bruce Reid have arrived at the AFL Commission meeting, suggesting a decision on their fate and that of the club over the supplements saga is close.

Hird, assistant coach Thompson, football manager Corcoran and club doctor Reid have been charged, along with their club, with bringing the game into disrepute.

The commission meeting is expected to rule on possible penalties for all later on Monday.

The meeting started at 8.30am (AEST) at AFL House, with stripping of premiership points shaping as the most likely among a range of sanctions the club could be hit with over their suspect 2012 supplements program.

Heavy fines, the loss of draft picks and possible suspension for key figures in the scandal including Hird are also among the options being canvassed.

Reid arrived at AFL House on Monday afternoon flanked by legal representatives, with Hird’s lawyer Julian Burnside and Corcoran arriving separately soon afterwards.

There has been no sign yet at AFL House of Hird.

Thompson is understood to have arrived earlier via another entrance.

Essendon chairman Paul Little and Hird conceded on Saturday that punishment was likely, but the main sticking point is understood to be an unwillingness to accept any suggestion they are drug cheats.

The Bombers have been under investigation by the Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the AFL since February over the club’s 2011-12 supplements program.

An interim report was presented to the AFL earlier this month, with sanctions set to be based on that while the ASADA investigation remains ongoing.

Acting on the report, the AFL charged Essendon, Hird, Reid, Corcoran and Thompson with offences relating to conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.

Hird has filed a separate Supreme Court writ against the AFL that remains alive.