Melbourne has been dragged into the drugs scandal amid claims it received ... - Herald Sun

Texts between Steve Dank and Dees club doctor Dan Bates have emerged. Source: The Daily Telegraph

MELBOURNE has been dragged into the performance-enhancing drugs controversy that has engulfed Essendon with claims its players received injections from Stephen Dank.

A series of texts messages spanning more than six months between Melbourne club doctor Dan Bates and Dank, the man at the centre of the Bombers scandal, surfaced tonight.

The 7.30 program, screened on ABC, showed messages between the pair sent between August last year and February, when the Essendon scandal broke.

The AFL tonight said it was "urgently seeking further explanation" from the Demons regarding the claims.

Seven Demons players are named in the messages, including co-captain Jack Trengove, ruckman Mark Jamar and forward Lynden Dunn.

The texts show Dank suggested Melbourne players be injected with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Authority' until 2011.

He also advised Trengove be treated with substances Dank prescribed.

"Should we consider AOD cream for Jack Trengove's navicular," Dank wrote to Bates.

"Yep," Bates replied.

In the texts, Dank also gave details of how the club could finance the use of substances he prescribed.

"Ok. I have a way to put the high performance unit as a R&D tax break. That would mean a fair chunk of money going back to the club," Dank wrote.

The texts also show Dank may have met with Demons director of sports performance Neil Craig.

"Meeting with Neil Craig next Tuesday or Wednesday," one text said.

Melbourne has emphatically denied any of its players have had contact with Dank. It also refuted claims the club employed Dank.

"He applied for a job at the club late last year but he was unsuccessful. He has never had any direct contact with the players," the club said in a statement in February.

In a statement tonight, the AFL said: "The AFL (was) not previously aware of claims broadcast tonight and these will form part of the ongoing investigations by ASADA and the AFL."

The league also wants answers as to why Melbourne's previous comments regarding Dank contradict with the reports tonight.

It is believed the Dees board met for an emergency meeting at the MCG tonight.

SOME OF THE ALLEGED TEXT MESSAGES:

Dank to Bates: "Meeting with Neil Craig next Tuesday or Wednesday. Spoke to Dave today."

Bates to Dank: "Great."

Dank to Bates: "When we will start Jack Trengove on the AOD?"

Bates to Dank: "Tomorrow"

Bates to Dank: "Where can I get him to pick it up from?"

Dank to Bates: "The pharmacy. Tell him to ring me and he can meet me there."

Bates to Dank: "...Lynden Dunn would like an injection on Thursday if possible (good about Dunny asking, as he is doing it because the other guys have said they feel good). Dan."

Dank to Bates: "Great. I will book him in."

More to come...