The 2012 Brownlow medal has new owners after the AFL commission confirmed the award handed back last week by Jobe Watson will go to Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.
After a day of deliberation at AFL House, the league’s chairman Mike Fitzpatrick made official that Watson had been stripped of the medal he won four years ago and that the joint runners-up would instead receive the prestigious award.
Cotchin becomes the fifth Richmond player to win the Brownlow, while Mitchell, now of West Coast, is Hawthorn’s fifth recipient.
The commission was scheduled to rule on whether to strip the medal from Watson, who was caught up in the Essendon supplements scandal of 2012, before the Bombers captain reluctantly fell on his sword on Friday.
That left the league to decide whether to leave that year’s medal vacant, or to award it to the next best and fairest, Cotchin and Mitchell. The commission unanimously opted for the latter.
“The commission believe Jobe’s decision was a noble one,” Fitzpatrick said. “In respecting the values of the competition and putting the interests of the game before his own, Jobe has shown his commitment to fair play – the qualities of a champion.
“The impact of this decision on him and his family is one of great sadness for the game.
“The commission ruled today that Jobe Watson was not eligible for the 2012 Brownlow medal. But today is also a day to recognise and celebrate two champions of the game.”
Cotchin, who said he received the news with “mixed emotions”, and Mitchell will be presented with their medals at a small ceremony in Melbourne next month on a date to be confirmed later.
“This has been a difficult time for Jobe, but I have great respect for him, and the decision he made in very tough circumstances,” Cotchin said on Tuesday.
Cotchin had previously indicated he would be happy to accept the retrospective award, whereas Mitchell had not commented on the matter publicly.
The AFL had invited both players to make their cases for being awarded the medal, but both declined to do so.
Watson’s Brownlow medal was under scrutiny after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last month ruled against overturning the bans of 34 current and former Bombers players for their part in the club’s supplements program.
The ruling in Switzerland effectively drew a line under the saga, forcing the AFL to settle the issue of the Brownlow medal.
“This is a day that holds no specific joy for anyone,” said AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.
“Clearly, that feels like it’s the last decision this commission will have to make [on the Essendon scandal] – I don’t know if relief is the right word.
“If there’s a silver lining today, that’s it.”
