Jobe Watson hands back 2012 Brownlow Medal

Jobe Watson has handed back his Brownlow Medal.

‘It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to hand back my 2012 Brownlow Medal,’ the Essendon star said in a statement.

‘It is now up to the AFL Commission at their meeting on Tuesday to make a decision as to what they want to do with it.

Watson was quick to point out he had not changed his views on what happened at the club during the now infamous 2012 season, but wanted to ‘put a close’ to the speculation.

‘One of the most frustrating elements of this entire process has been my belief that many of the decisions in this matter have been based on perception rather than evidence,’ he explained.

The Bombers quickly followed suit, releasing a statement of their own.

The club apologised ‘unreservedly’ to Watson for putting him in this position.

‘Jobe has remained unassailably dignified under the most extraordinary pressure over the past four years,’ Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner said.

‘The club takes responsibility for placing Jobe in this position and unreservedly apologises to him and his family.’

It’s unclear whether medals will now be given to Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin, who tied for second.

‘I think it would look silly if they didn’t,’ 3AW Football’s Mick Warner told Tom Elliott.

‘In any other sport the silver medallist becomes the gold medallist.

‘I think that’s the common sense decision.’

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