Essendon star Jobe Watson explains why he will hand back his 2012 Brownlow Medal
“It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to hand back my 2012 Brownlow Medal.” - Read the full statement from Jobe on why he is giving his medal back.
Essendon
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ESSENDON star Jobe Watson will hand back his 2012 Brownlow Medal to the AFL.
Watson released the following statement detailing why he made the tough decision.
“It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to hand back my 2012 Brownlow Medal.
“It is now up to the AFL Commission at their meeting on Tuesday to make a decision as to what they want to do with it.
MEDAL RETURN: JOBE GIVES BROWNLOW BACK
“It has been incredibly distressing for me to have people question my integrity and infer an intention to act against the spirit of the game, a spirit that is intrinsically part of who I am.
“The basic principle behind this prestigious award is to honour the fairest and best. If there is a question in people’s minds as to whether the 2012 award is tainted, the fairest and best thing to do is to give it back and honour the history that has gone before me.
“I want to make it clear that today’s decision does not in any way reflect a change in my personal opinion regarding the merits of the CAS finding, but rather reflects my desire to put to a close further speculation about what should be done with the 2012 Brownlow Medal.”
Essendon Football Club chairman Lindsay Tanner issued the following statement in relation to Watson and the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
“Jobe has remained unassailably dignified under the most extraordinary pressure over the past four years,” Tanner said.
“The club takes responsibility for placing Jobe in this position and unreservedly apologises to him and his family.
“Jobe is a person of the highest integrity and character and has the total support and admiration of our membership, staff, executive and board.
“The Essendon family has been, and will continue to be, incredibly proud of Jobe Watson.”
The club will not be making any further comment at this point in time.
Originally published as Essendon star Jobe Watson explains why he will hand back his 2012 Brownlow Medal
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