Any ban covers off season and in season times, it isn't like a tribunal suspension for a number of games.
The offer is if the players plead guilty they would be suspended for 6 months from say July 1.
Then they will be able to resume on January 1, but for that six months they can't play, train or do anything else officially.
When Warnie was suspended and preparing to return he couldn't train with any contracted player or at any officially funded venue or with any coaches or officials.
So he would have to arrange a venue himself like a school and go and have a net with people outside the system ie club cricketers or mates.
If the Essendon players copped this they miss all the games left this season and have to do their pre-season independently.
It sounds a bit Mickey Mouse but WADA enforce it strongly, they can access phone records and bank statements to check contact and who is funding training etc...