The whereabouts of Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal remains a mystery to the AFL

JOBE Watson announced on Friday he would give back his 2012 Brownlow Medal. But as of now, the AFL has no idea where the medal actually is.

Jobe Watson will not keep his 2012 Brownlow Medal. Picture: David Caird

THE whereabouts of Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal remains a mystery to the AFL.

Watson announced on Friday he would hand back the iconic award, but as of Saturday the league still did not know where it was.

The AFL said there was no protocol in place if the Commission decides on Tuesday to give the medal to Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.

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Mitchell did not make any comment, and Cotchin did not return calls on Saturday, and it’s understood neither has been given any indication which way the Commission will rule.

But the Richmond captain said in May said he would accept a retrospective medal.

“I think you would have to (accept it),” Cotchin said.

“It would be a challenging position to be in, because we all know the great person that Jobe Watson is.”

Jobe Watson will hand back his 2012 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Getty Images

The football world remains split as to whether the joint runners-up should be declared winners, or whether 2012 should go down in history as a blank Brownlow season.

St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt expects the midfield superstars to be awarded medals — but said 2012 was tainted.

“Having no winner from that year will look a bit silly,” Riewoldt said.

“There will be an asterisk there no doubt, but you’d expect both guys to probably be handed it retrospectively.

“That year is always going to be tainted a little bit, because Jobe won the medal on the night.

“I would expect those two guys (Mitchell and Cotchin) to sit on their hands and accept whatever ruling the Commission come down with.”

Dual Sydney premiership player Jude Bolton also believes Mitchell and Cotchin will be recognised.

“They were the best players of that year fairly, in terms of that sense of fairness that the Brownlow is awarded,” he said on Saturday.

“There will be a level of reluctance in taking the honour. It’s such a tough one, I feel for the players who have to go through that.”

But Essendon legend and Watson’s former teammate Matthew Lloyd said the situation was too messy to simply hand the medal to the next in line.

A selection of Brownlow Medallists were also split.

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

But 1999 winner Shane Crawford said there must be a winner.

Jason Akermanis argued that Cotchin and Mitchell were deserving of the game’s highest individual honour.

Watson’s former teammate Adam Cooney, the 2008 Brownlow Medallist, was undecided.

“My original thought was yes, they were the next in line for the fairest and best players in the league,” Cooney said.

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

“But will the AFL subtract all votes from teams that played against Essendon that year, or do you leave it as is? It’s a messy situation for all involved, whatever the outcome.”

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.

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Bombers forward Joe Daniher heaped praise on Watson’s character.

“It’s never been a question of Jobe’s integrity or the way he goes about being an AFL footballer and role model for the community,” Daniher said.

“For me personally, I consider myself a relatively young player at our footy club and to have a role model like that as a resource every single day is fantastic for the younger people at our football club.”

Originally published as The whereabouts of Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal remains a mystery to the AFL