Essendon star Jobe Watson is considering his future in football after handing back Brownlow Medal

ESSENDON is adamant Jobe Watson will play in Round 1 next year despite a battle to rediscover his passion for football.

Jobe Watson at Essendon training. Picture: Hamish Blair

ESSENDON is adamant Jobe Watson will play in Round 1 next year despite a battle to rediscover his passion for football.

Watson made the unprecedented decision to hand back his Brownlow Medal two weeks ago and has been flattened by the aftermath.

He had expected to be enlivened by his return to training but is working through flagging motivational levels.

TIGERS NEWS: YARRAN WALKS AWAY FROM FOOTY

PAY OUT: BOMBERS AGREE TO COMPO PAYMENTS

COMING BACK: HOCKING MAY NEED TO EMBRACE NEW ROLE

Essendon coach John Worsfold admitted that Watson had hit an unexpected flat spot after a turbulent month.

“There is no doubt it has again got Jobe to the point where he again says, ‘Do I really have the passion for the game and playing the game?’, so we are saying to Jobe, ‘Don’t just think a light is going to switch on overnight, come and get involved in training and let it evolve’.”

But Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said there was no danger of Watson walking away from Essendon in coming weeks.

“I feel pretty confident Jobe will be playing footy for Essendon in 2017 and maybe even beyond,’’ he said.

Jobe Watson at Essendon training. Picture: Hamish Blair

“He is going through a period at the moment which is a challenge. There is a lot of personal focus on him.

“We feel comfortable in the position Jobe has taken.”

The Bombers on Tuesday threw open their doors to fans to thank them for their support as the entire list trained together at the club’s Tullamarine headquarters.

With a stacked midfield, forward line recruits in James Stewart and Josh Green and excellent defensive options, the club can attack 2017 with real purpose.

But first it needs to work through Watson’s issues and continue to surround him with every level of support.

“Jobe was in a really good space and looking forward to getting back ... and the timing of the Brownlow announcement just as he was about to run back out onto the training track with the guys challenged him again,’’ Worsfold said.

“He is super fit and training really well but he doesn’t run out on the training track bouncing around and saying, ‘I am loving this’. It has challenged him again.

Jobe Watson with his 2012 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Getty Images.

“I can’t say what his mood is but it’s challenged him more than where he was at six weeks ago.”

“We will support him taking his time with that decision if and when that passion comes back.

“I am confident it will and I have told Jobe I will assist him and hopefully he can find that.”

Worsfold said Watson was not out of the running to be announced captain, saying the best leader would quickly become clear.

ESSENDON has also finalised another batch of player compensation claims, but is yet to agree to terms with Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell or Jake Carlisle.

Law firm Slater and Gordon confirmed an “in-principle agreement” had been reached between the Bombers and 18 of the 34 players suspended in January by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“These players were innocent participants in the supplements program,” lawyer Patrick Gordon said.

“They were given assurances that all supplements they were receiving had been approved from people who they thought they could trust.

Jobe Watson at training on Tuesday. Picture: Michael Klein

“No player at any time intended to breach their obligations under the AFL anti-doping code, and any such breach that occurred was due to the players being misled about the nature of the supplements they received. They now hope to move on with their lives and careers, both within and outside the AFL.”

STAR BOMBER: THE DON YOU DON’T WANT TO BOX ON WITH

DANK TALK: DANK FACES BANKRUPTCY, VOWS TO CLEAR BOMBERS

Essendon last week announced a $9.8 million loss for 2016 factoring in all 34 compensation claims.

Bombers chairman Lindsay Tanner declared that former coach James Hird was welcome back at the club any time.

“For the medium-term interests of the club, it’s important that everybody is part of the show,” he said.

“The question of when and how still remains open, and there’s two sides to that.”