The AFL has announced that Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell will now be recognised as the joint winners of the 2012 Brownlow Medal, after retrospectively ruling that Jobe Watson was ineligible for the award.
Watson made the decision to hand back the award on Friday last week, and the AFL commission met earlier today to reach a final decision on what the fate of the medal would be.
In the 2012 count Watson recorded a total of 30 votes, while Mitchell and Cotchin were equal second in terms of votes with 26 each.
Sam Mitchell has recorded the equal-second-most career Brownlow votes in the history of the award and before today was the player with the most career votes to have never won the award.
He is a five-time Hawthorn best-and-fairest winner, three-time All-Australian, and four-time AFL premiership player.
Mitchell becomes the fifth Hawthorn player to win the league’s highest honour, alongside Col Austen, Robert DiPierdomenico, John Platten and Shane Crawford.
Due to some poor timing however the Hawks won’t be able to celebrate Mitchell’s Brownlow in quite the way they would have liked to, as the club legend was traded to the West Coast Eagles in October.
It will make the Eagles’ 2017 side the first to have two Brownlow Medallists in it since Watson and Adam Cooney for Essendon in 2015 – or Jimmy Bartel and Gary Ablett junior for Geelong in 2010 before that.
Trent Cotchin is a three-time Richmond best-and-fairest winner and was All-Australian in 2012.
He becomes the fifth Richmond player to win the Brownlow Medal, longside Stan Judkins, Bill Morris, Roy Wright (twice, in 1952 and 1954), and Ian Stewart.
Mitchell and Cotchin will receive their medals at a ceremony to be held in December.
“The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in our game, and celebrates the competition’s best and fairest player,” said AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.
“In stepping forward and handing back the medal, Jobe Watson demonstrated a willingness to consider the game beyond his own personal situation. At all times, Jobe has carried himself with dignity and remained true to the values that he has based his life around.
“The impact of this decision on him and his family is one of great sadness for the game.
“Essendon has apologised to Jobe and his family for the position in which they have placed their club champion.
“I wish to repeat the words I said in January earlier this year when the 34 past and present Essendon players were found guilty by the Court of Arbitration of Sport. The program at the Essendon football club in 2012 was a stain on our game – and it has had a terrible impact on the players and the Essendon football club.
“We can all agree that the players should never have been subject to this program, and they have suffered a big penalty for the trust they showed in people who have let them down.
“What occurred at Essendon in 2012 has struck at the very heart of our game – the integrity of the competition, and the health and safety of the players.”
Fitzpatrick said Cotchin and Mitchell were deserving winners, despite the unusual manner of their victory.
“As the highest-placed eligible vote-getters, Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin were formally declared the joint winners of the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
“Sam and Trent are deserving Brownlow Medallists for the quality of their play in 2012, and the Commission wishes to pass on the congratulations of the entire football community for their performances.”
Aransan
Guest
I don't think Essendon supporters will mind Cotchin getting the medal but Mitchell is another matter: http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news/2015/6/sam-mitchell-makes-jabbing-sledge-towards-essendon-players/
Birdman
Guest
I doubt they would 'go there' but it's a fair point
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Just thinking out loud... I wonder if Mitchell and Cotchin could make a claim for lost salary now? I presume having a Brownlow medal would increase your value?
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Thanks for those keen insights Joe. Really valuable contribution to the discussion.
Birdman
Guest
Totally agree PD - Watson is paying for a lack of independent action/choice on his part but he's still trying to make himself out as a martyr.
Birdman
Guest
The 'handing back' of the medal by Watson is a totally empty gesture by Watson as he was ineligible to hold it which is being a bit lost in some reportage of yesterday's decision.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Nearly a quarter of Essendon's list in 2012 didn't participate in the drugs program. Hird described it as a choice (although clearly there was significant pressure and expectation, led by Hird). Jobe could have made the same choice as the 12 who weren't served infraction notices, but he didn't - so he has to accept his complicity.
Troy
Guest
A shame for Jobe Watson, who seems to be generally a fair player, but nevertheless I think it's the right decision.
Whitestar
Guest
Wayne Carey went ok for a bloke who didn't win one, end of career notwithstanding.
Brinnx
Guest
Congrats to Cotchin and Mitchell, and especially to Jobe Watson for having the class to hand it back before they stripped it off him. Say what you like about the culpability of Watson, it is the Essendon club itself that wears the vast majority of the blame for this. As for James Hird - one day he will wake up and realise that it was his poor management and oversight skills that cost Jobe a Brownlow and forever tainted the Essendon brand. Going on current form, James will be about 98 before it finally sinks in it was all his fault. Whatever it takes indeed.
The Finger
Guest
....would've been kinda embarrassing if Watson was stripped of his award, then Mitchell & Cotchin presented with their medals at the 2016 Brownlow night, then Essendon won their appeal. That would represent a dog's breakfast re the 2012 Brownlow. The AFL did a measured, mature and responsible thing by waiting until the final outcome was announced. Watson's behaviour re this matter in handing back his medal was impressive and courageous - it was also good for the AFL reputation as a whole.
michael steel
Guest
This is the only decision which could be made. I'll add this, although it's a different situation> Those players who lost on count back many years ago were thrilled when they received their medals. (I know because I've got the book BROWNLOW)
BigJ
Roar Guru
thanks for the history lesson, I did not know that
me too
Guest
agree. pity the afl sat on their hands - it should've been awarded this brownlow. but as it is they've waited four years, the least the afl can do is have a formal presentation next brownlow. those calling to void the year are forgetting to do so would make these two even more victims than they already are. imagine if the olympics simply voided any event that was drug tainted?
Scuba
Guest
Lewis accepted the 88 gold medal for the 100m and kept it for quarter of a century. In about 2013, he donated it and all of his other Olympic medals - except his 84 gold medal for the 100m which he buried with his father - to the Smithsonian where it is now on display.
Scuba
Guest
Sorry madmonk, your comment wasn't showing when I posted - otherwise I wouldn't have posted roughly the same thing below!
BigJ
Roar Guru
here is another, Carl lewis in 1988 seoul 100 metre run, pretty sure he never took the gold medal. If Mitchell and Cotchin are happy good for them but I would not want some award four years overdue.
sammy
Guest
Ultimately the only result they could have, as it is no different to McKernan getting the most votes over the season but being ineligible due to a breach of the AFL rules. My only gripe with this decision (I follow neither Richmond nor Hawthorn), is that these two guys should be presented with their medals and honoured at the very next Brownlow medal night as any winner is so they can get to stand up in front of their peers at the awards niight and be treated accordingly.
Scuba
Guest
It's not the same situation though. With the Storm, you had a team who knocked out a number of other teams in the 07 and 09 finals series and no one could ever say with certainty that Manly or Parramatta would have won those GF if played against the team that would have made it if the Storm had not been there (whoever that might have been). Given that players who are ineligible for the Brownlow due to suspension can (and are) still awarded votes, that element of uncertainty is not there.
mattyb
Guest
Why are they winning by default though? I think they are now just being awarded what is rightfully theirs. I think it's a good decision and would be an insult if they were not given the award. Well done to the AFL,Mitchell and Cotchin.