5 February 2013
The Essendon Football Club self-report to ASADA in relation to the club's possible use of prohibited supplements during the 2012 season.
27 February
Essendon announce an independent review to be conducted by Ziggy Switkowski into the club's governance of its supplements program.
16 April
James Hird is interviewed by ASADA and AFL investigators for eight hours.
6 May
The independent review into Essendon's alleged use of prohibited substances is released to the public. Report concludes that the Bombers' sports science program allowed "a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented."
23 May
Ian Robson stands down as CEO of the Essendon Football Club.
24 June
Essendon captain Jobe Watson admits on Fox Footy's On the Couch that he believed he was administered with the banned substance AOD-9604 during the 2012 season.
27 June
Watson spearheads a remarkable Bombers victory over West Coast amid a hostile atmosphere in Perth.
12 July
Reports emerge that Essendon players will not be sanctioned for the use of the AOD-9604 because Essendon says that that the drug was not banned in 2012.
27 July
David Evans stands down as Chairman of the Essendon Football Club.
31 July
Sacked high performance manager Dean 'The Weapon' Robinson accuses James Hird of masterminding the club's supplements program in 2012 and that the club allowed him to operate the football club the way he wanted when he was appointed as head coach prior to the 2011 season.
2 August
ASADA releases its interim report into Essendon's supplements program to the AFL.
13 August
The AFL charge Essendon, Hird, club doctor Bruce Reid, senior assistant coach Mark Thompson and football operations manager Danny Corcoran with conduct likely to bring the game into disrepute with a hearing set for 26 August.
22 August
Hird lodges an action with the Supreme Court of Victoria, saying that he has been denied natural justice. Meanwhile, the AFL holds an emergency meeting with all the club presidents explaining what is happening and how it will affect the league.
26-27 August
Talks between the AFL and the accused parties at AFL House go for close to two full days. Bombers are eventually disqualified from 2013 finals series, fined $2 million and stripped of first and second round draft picks in the 2013 and 2014 AFL Drafts. Hird cops a 12-month ban, Corcoran four months and a further two months withheld, while assistant coach Mark Thompson received a $30,000 fine.
18 September
Charges against Dr Reid are dropped and no penalties imposed after a successful appeal.
5 December
Reports emerge that Hird is still being paid by Essendon during his ban. AFL chief Andrew Demetriou says "If there is one thing I will go to my grave on, I know 100 per cent the AFL is not paying and I know that - Essendon is not paying."
13 December
AFL demand Essendon to explain why they are still paying Hird. Stalemate is resolved with an agreement in place where Hird will be paid 12 months' salary before December 31. James Hird deal leaves AFL red-faced
20 December
Football manager Danny Corcoran deciding against returning to the club. READ MORE
5 February 2014
A year after the scandal broke, Essendon launch their membership campaign with still no Bombers player charged by ASADA.
2 March
A report in the Herald Sun names 10 current Essendon players, two former players and two retired players who thought they had been injected with peptides. Little remains defiant, saying "As previously stated, we believe that our players did not take anything harmful, performance enhancing or illegal during 2012." READ MORE
3 March
Demetriou announces he will leave his post at the end of the season. Says the timing of his decision has nothing to do with the Essendon crisis.
18 March
Hird speaks on Fox Footy's The Hangar of his desire to return to coaching.
20 March
Hird's wife Tania repeats her allegations that Demetriou tipped off Essendon about the supplements program in an interview with ABC's 7.30 show.
21 March
Little disappointed with Tania's interview and for the first time doesn't publicly back Hird. Will James Hird ever coach Essendon again?
24 March
Essendon announce the board will meet on Wednesday March 26 to decide the future of Hird. READ MORE