Mark Maclure tells Open Mike Jobe Watson is no Lance Armstrong

OPEN MIKE: MARK Maclure admits he got it wrong comparing Jobe Watson to disgraced drugs cheat Lance Armstrong and gives Jack Riewoldt a slap.

Mark Maclure

CONTROVERSIAL footy commentator Mark Maclure admits he got it wrong when he compared Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson to disgraced drugs cheat Lance Armstrong.

Maclure linked the pair earlier this month after Watson revealed he took a drug he believed to be AOD-9604 – a substance since confirmed as banned under anti-doping rules.

The Essendon captain said he signed a consent form outlining how he would be administered the drug in his Brownlow year. The form was co-signed by sacked sports scientist Stephen Dank, Watson said.

Maclure drew the wrath of the Bombers’ army on social media immediately after his comments, made on AFL 360.

“I probably did (get it wrong),” the former Carlton captain and 243-game star told Fox Footy’s Open Mike, which screens on Monday night at 9.30pm.

AFL Round 18: Essendon v Hawthorn

“But at the moment I thought he’d admitted to taking drugs. I understand that and I got it wrong.”

Maclure said he has not apologised to Jobe or father Tim Watson since the outburst.

“It doesn’t mean I’m heartless,” he said, adding he would rather address the Watsons in person.

In an explosive opening to the show, Maclure also took aim at Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt.

“I really despise people who are selfish in our game, that’s what I really hate. And I will always have a go at that, because this is a team game,” he said.

Mark Maclure

“When you have a look at Brendon Fevola (he) never played in a (Grand) Final. Jack Riewoldt hasn’t played in a final.

“When they start playing in finals and start becoming team players, then we’ll see a different side to Jack Riewoldt. Brendan never did.”

Maclure, who savaged the dual Coleman medallist after Richmond's Round 5 loss to Fremantle, made the comments before Riewoldt penned a three-year deal to remain at Punt Rd, knocking back mega bucks from rival clubs.

“Selflessness is one of the major things in our game. Unfortunately Jack has worried about himself, at times he’s changed, but it looks like he’s gone back to it a little bit now.”

Watson and his Essendon teammates are expected to learn in the next fortnight if they will be issued infraction notices from ASADA as the investigation into the Bombers’ supplements program concludes.

Essendon chairman David Evans resigned on Saturday night, joining chief executive Ian Robson, sports scientist Stephen Dank, high performance manager Dean Robinson and football manager Paul Hamilton as key departures since the supplements program began.

Tim Watson said the loss of Evans would hit the playing group hard given their close ties to the chairman.

Watson said coach James Hird would not follow Evans’ lead and step aside.

“He’s not going to. There’s no way that he’ll stand down. In terms of his survival, that will be a question of what sort of punishment is handed down by the AFL when and if they hand one down.”