AFL Commission split over handing Jobe Watson’s 2012 Brownlow to Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell

THE AFL Commission has the power to anoint runners-up Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin as the new 2012 Brownlow Medal winners but is split on the decision.

Trent Cotchin could be awarded the 2012 Brownlow Medal along with Sam Mitchell after finishing as joint runners-up in the count that year. Picture: Michael Klein

THE AFL Commission is split over awarding Jobe Watson’s 2012 Brownlow Medal to runners-up Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin.

The commission, headed by Mike Fitzpatrick, has the power to anoint the pair as new Brownlow medallists or declare the 2012 season a year without a winner.

That decision has not been determined.

Watson on Friday sensationally handed back the game’s highest individual honour ahead of a historic AFL Commission meeting on Tuesday.

Jobe Watson at Essendon training on Friday. Picture: David Caird

The decision by Watson saved the AFL from making “one of the hardest decisions” in the history of the game.

The AFL said on Friday it did not pressure Watson into his decision.

“The AFL acknowledges that this was an extremely difficult decision to make,” McLachlan said on Friday.

“In Jobe’s own words, he is honouring the history of the medal and putting the interests of the game first, and this is an honourable position for him to have taken.”

McLachlan said this year the Commission would dread making the decision.

“The people charged with the responsibility of making that decision will not have made a more difficult decision — not just in their time in football, but almost in their lives,” he said in September.

“I don’t want to overdramatise it, but that will be as hard a decision as anyone on the Commission has had to make, I’m sure of it.”

COMMENT: WATSON DID THE HONOURABLE THING?

REACTION: ‘HE IS A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY’

JOBE WATSON: BOMBER HANDS BACK HIS 2012 BROWNLOW MEDAL

WATSON’S STATEMENT: READ IT IN FULL

ESSENDON’S STATEMENT: BOMBERS ‘UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISE’ TO WATSON

BETTING: TAB TO REFUND BETS ON COTCHIN, MITCHELL FOR 2012 BROWNLOW

On Tuesday, the AFL will consider Watson’s statement and formally rule on the future of the 2012 medal.

Mitchell and Cotchin finished in a tie for second in the 2012 Brownlow Medal count, four votes behind Watson.

Mitchell, who was on Friday unveiled as a West Coast Eagles player after his shock exit from Hawthorn three weeks ago, refused to weigh in on whether he should be awarded the Brownlow.

“I don’t know ... I’m not here to talk about that. I’m not going to go into details about that,” Mitchell said.

Trent Cotchin could be awarded the 2012 Brownlow Medal along with Sam Mitchell after finishing as joint runners-up in the count that year. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m here to announce being at West Coast Eagles. I’m not going to talk about the Brownlow.”

West Coast coach Adam Simpson said: “I’m sure it’s going to gain some legs now we’ve got potentially the next Brownlow medallist here.

“It’s something we’ll address in the next few days I would have thought.”

The Herald Sun reported this week the Commission had the power to strip Watson of his medal, but did not have to automatically hand it to joint runners-up Mitchell and Cotchin.

St Kilda legend Robert Harvey won the 1997 Brownlow with 26 votes after Bulldogs champ Chris Grant (27 votes) was declared ineligible because of a one-week suspension.

Suspension also cost North Melbourne ruckman Corey McKernan a Brownlow in 1996 — he finished in a three-way tie for the game’s highest individual honour with James Hird and Michael Voss.

Originally published as AFL Commission split over handing Jobe Watson’s 2012 Brownlow to Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell