Essendon coach Mark Thompson kept the media waiting 45 minutes on Thursday but insisted the meeting behind the delay wasn’t related to ASADA or Workcover investigations.

Thompson said he had spent the time in a meeting with his players, planning for their match against Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

“Nothing extraordinarily interesting, just a bit of feedback for each other, trying to get in the right spirit and frame of mind to play well against the Swans,” Thompson said.

Fairfax Media has reported that the Victorian WorkCover Authority is investigating the Bombers in relation to their controversial 2012 supplements program.

In a statement, a VWA spokesman said: “The VWA has been monitoring the progress of the ASADA investigation into allegations surrounding the Essendon Football Club.

“The VWA recently received a request under section 131 of the OHS Act 2004 to investigate alleged risks to health and safety at the club. The VWA is required to investigate and determine if further action should be taken. As this is a current investigation, the VWA is unable to comment further.”

Thompson said he hadn’t been interviewed and was unsure who triggered the investigation.

It was reported the investigation began after Worksafe received a request from an external body.

“I don’t know what the club knows,” Thompson said.

“I don’t know much.”

Earlier in the week it was reported that ASADA would soon issue show-cause notices to up to 40 Essendon-listed players from 2012.

The notices would invite players to show cause as to why they should not receive infraction notices for breaches of anti-doping rules.

Thompson said the players hadn’t been outwardly affected by the prospect of the notices.

“I don’t think much has changed for them; we certainly haven’t made it a focus.”

AAP