The Essendon Football Club has been fined $200,000 for side-stepping medical staff and ignoring protocols during its controversial supplements program.

The beleaguered AFL club last month pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to provide and maintain a safe work place for players.

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The Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday convicted the club of the two charges and fined it $200,000.

Magistrate Peter Reardon said the club’s breaches were significant because they did not simply involve risk to the players, there was proactive action on the part of the club and invasion of the players’ bodies via injections.

The club seemed to turn a blind eye to what was happening, and no proper records were kept, Mr Reardon said.

“It is impossible to tell how many injections the players were given and what was in them,” the magistrate said.

“Everyone knows that when you go to the doctor records are kept for future reference.”

The club was well-resourced and could have easily provided a safe place for the 34 players.

“It did not. It did the opposite,” Mr Reardon said.

He said it was hard to imagine players standing up to James Hird, given his prestige.