The Bombers have already suffered unprecedented penalties as a result of ASADA's interim report which included becoming the first club in history to be kicked out of a finals series and having their senior coach (James Hird) suspended for 12 months, being fined a record $2 million and also being excluded from the first two rounds of the 2013 and 2014 national drafts.
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However, ASADA's final report is yet to be handed down with their probe into Essendon's controversial 2011-12 supplement program incomplete.
Ominously, outgoing World Anti-Doping Authority boss John Fahey claimed it was 'only a matter of when', not if, infraction notices were handed out to Essendon players before admitting he had no specific knowledge of possible charges being laid.
And while Fahey's comments, coupled with the ongoing ASADA investigation, have made it hard for Essendon to put a full stop on the most turbulent year in their history, Stanton insisted he and his team-mates were focused on preparing for the 2014 season while also being ready for whatever might come their way from the country's doping watchdog.
"As you've probably heard about a million times, it's an ongoing process and we'll deal with whatever comes our way when it happens," Stanton said on Wednesday.
"We're not too worried about it at the moment. We're training and we're getting prepared for a new season.
"But it's an ongoing process and we'll respect that, and that's all I can really say.
"We're looking forward. It's a brand new season coming next year, and it's been a big year.
"But I think the boys have really grown, in terms of the way they've handled themselves on and off the field.
"It's been fantastic that this football club has been able to grow.
"We've tried to do our best on the field and we'll keep developing ourselves off the field as well - and I think that's an important lesson coming out of this year."
Meanwhile, Brendon Goddard's preparations for the upcoming season have hit a minor snag with the reigning Essendon best-and-fairest winner injuring his calf on the club's recent training camp in Colorado.
"I'm just managing my load now, and I'll be back into full training post-Christmas," Goddard told Essendon's official website.
And in a boost for the Bombers, star youngster Dyson Heppell is making significant strides since fracturing his foot in August.
"The foot is going really well," Heppell said.
"I was able to do everything over in Colorado, and there have been no issues at all since surgery."