Past winners differ in views on Trent Cotchin, Sam Mitchell being awarded 2012 Brownlow Medal

PAST Brownlow Medal winners are split on whether 2012 runners-up Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell should be awarded the medal.

BROWNLOW Medallist Tony Liberatore on Friday night said it would be wrong for 2012 runners-up Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell to accept Jobe Watson’s medal.

But Shane Crawford said the AFL must find a winner and fellow Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis said Mitchell and Cotchin deserved the award.

Watson courageously handed back the game’s highest individual honour on Friday and the AFL Commission must now decide whether to redistribute the medal or simply assign an asterisk to the 2012 season.

Watson polled 30 votes to win during the Bombers’ disastrous drugs regime, with Mitchell and Cotchin finishing second on 26 votes.

Jobe Watson handed back his Brownlow Medal on Friday. Picture: Colleen Petch

Liberatore said it would feel too hollow to accept a Brownlow Medal four years later.

“Personally, if I was runner-up I wouldn’t accept the award. I wouldn’t find it right,” the 1990 winner said.

“If the runner-up accepts the award, I think it’s wrong. If Jobe’s not going to win it I don’t think anyone should win it.

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“You can’t just accept an award four years down the track. I really feel it would be a hollow victory.

“Four years is a long time. Personally, I couldn’t accept it.”

Liberatore, Crawford and Akermanis all said they felt deeply for Watson, while sacked Essendon coach James Hird maintained his former captain’s innocence.

Trent Cotchi, who was runner-up in 2012, could be awarded the Brownlow. Picture: Michael Klein

“Jobe Watson never cheated, he never took anything illegal and he won the medal fairly,” Hird said.

“And he shouldn’t have to give it back.”

Crawford said: “He felt like he had trust in his footy club and the fitness people around him.

“I know what a quality human being he is. But if he’s handed it back, you have to have a winner.”

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Bombers great Matthew Lloyd wants an asterisk placed on the 2012 medal.

“Not that simple (to hand it to Mitchell and Cotchin). Asterisk year on Brownlow as 34 players were deemed to have an unfair advantage,” Lloyd said.

The 10 players which shared 59 Brownlow votes for the Bombers in 2012 were all part of the ‘Essendon 34’ which served doping bans this year.

But Akermanis said Cotchin and Mitchell were deserving winners and handing them the medal maintained the integrity of the Brownlow process.

Sam Mitchell, also runner-up in 2012, was speaking to the media in Perth when the news broke. Picture: Will Russell

“While Jobe might be seen as an innocent victim and there’s lots of empathy, those guys are deserving they had great years,” Akermanis said.

“If I was those two I would be incredibly humble and grateful to receive such an award.

“It’s a great thing for them and they should embrace it. They are deserving.

“They should not feel any of that underlying shame or guilt. It’s hard when you’re still playing, but they should say thanks and take the great award that it is and be really thankful.”

Akermanis pointed out that eight Brownlow Medals had been awarded retrospectively when the countback rule was enforced.

The Watson news broke during Mitchell’s inaugural press conference as a West Coast midfielder on Friday, but the former Hawk refused to weigh in.

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

Watson’s former teammate and 2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney was flattened by the revelation.

“He’s copped the brunt of everything that’s happened and for him to go back and hand his Brownlow Medal in is devastating for him and Essendon,” Cooney said.

Bombers great Michael Long recently said that Watson’s standing as a great the game was unshakable, regardless of the Brownlow outcome.

Originally published as Past winners differ in views on Trent Cotchin, Sam Mitchell being awarded 2012 Brownlow Medal