Essendon has lost the support of the other 17 AFL clubs over its handling of its drugs investigation.

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick averted a potentially bitter confrontation between Essendon chairman Paul Little and the other club chiefs when he agreed instead to communicate the clubs' anger with Essendon to Little privately after the meeting of all clubs at Crown ahead of the Brownlow.

While rivals are getting shirty, Essendon chairman Paul Little arrives for a meeting of AFL presidents on Monday. Credit:Getty Images

This development came as the AFL Players Association insisted the 34 players issued with show-cause notices remained united in fighting their charges and, having not seen the evidence against them, would not entertain a deal that would require them to admit guilt.

The clubs had strongly reinforced to Fitzpatrick at the weekend that they were united in their view that the Bombers' strategy of fighting the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in court and resisting answering the charges against the players was damaging the competition and threatening to imperil another season.