AFL asked Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin to make submissions about Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal

EXCLUSIVE: THE AFL took the highly unusual step of asking runner-up Sam Mitchell to make a submission about Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal early this year, writes Jon Ralph.

THE AFL took the highly unusual step of asking runner-up Sam Mitchell to make a submission about Jobe Watson’s Brownlow Medal early this year.

Mitchell and fellow runner-up Trent Cotchin look likely to eventually inherit Watson’s 2012 Brownlow Medal after he is stripped of it by the AFL.

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But it has been confirmed to the Herald Sun that the AFL asked all of Watson, Mitchell and Cotchin to make submissions after Essendon lost its Court of Arbitration appeal.

A month later a decision by the AFL Commission was postponed until all appeal avenues were exhausted, with some small chance an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights could go ahead.

Mitchell’s manager Peter Lenton told the Herald Sun Mitchell immediately decided against any submission.

It is not known what relevant information the AFL hoped to extract from Mitchell other than a plea the 2012 Brownlow Medal was not voided and was instead handed to him and Cotchin.

Lenton said today Mitchell would feel “hollow” if he was handed Watson’s Brownlow Medal, taking no pleasure in it being stripped from a fellow player.

“Out of fairness what the AFL have done is ask everyone to present — Trent, Sam and Jobe,’’ he said.

“I don’t know about the others but Sam never gave it a second thought. He won’t be submitting anything.

“He will allow the process to run its course and what will be will be.

“The AFL gave the option to Jobe to present and thought it would be fair to everyone to have that opportunity given they could be impacted by this decision.

“So hence they opened it up to them but we would never present.”

Sam Mitchell could end up with a belated Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

Lenton, currently working through a trade to West Coast for best-and-fairest winner Mitchell, said he took no joy in the chance he might be the 2012 Brownlow Medallist.

“It is an uncomfortable feeling even talking about. We have always said that you accept the umpire’s decision.

“He hasn’t given it a second thought since but it would be very much a hollow feeling for him should he get it. He is not desperate for it and he is not sitting there waiting for it.”