Jobe Watson takes day off as 2012 Brownlow Medal changes hands

IT was business as usual for some Essendon players at Tullamarine, but Jobe Watson was nowhere to be seen on the day the AFL rewrote Brownlow history.

IF Jobe Watson was ever going to “work from home”, it would be the day the AFL rewrote Brownlow history.

Footy clubs are great at getting around their people, and Essendon is no different.

If anything, the Bombers are the best, having had a lot of practice in four seasons plagued by scandal and controversy from their 2012 supplements program.

As the AFL presented Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell with their 2012 Brownlow Medals at Docklands, it was business as usual for Essendon on a non-training day at its Tullamarine base.

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Players arrived in dribs and drabs for meetings and optional sessions behind closed doors, but Watson, we were told, was spared the trip as per the “modified program” for older players.

Essendon star Jobe Watson took a day off. Picture: Michael Klein

Others weren’t as lucky to avoid the traffic and sweltering conditions.

Dyson Heppell, Darcy Parish and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti arrived early, with last month’s No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath, Joe Daniher and Michael Hurley not far behind.

Hurley was short, and to the point, when asked whether the Bombers would rally around Watson.

“Most likely,” he said on his way into the clubrooms.

Michael Hurley arrives at Essendon’s Tullamarine base. Picture: Hamish Blair

The mood was casual as players, mostly wearing T-shirts, shorts and thongs, filtered in and out during the morning and early afternoon, often crossing paths with supporters making a beeline for the Bombers Shop in search of a Christmas special.

Cotchin and Mitchell toasted their new status on Tuesday.

Watson’s victory is that he can play football again.

A toast with teammates, arm-in-arm, singing the song in Round 1 would be some sort of tonic.