It is sad, ironic and somewhat befitting that the AFL’s classiest and most dignified player was dealt the worst hand of them all.
Sad, because Jobe Watson deserved so much more from the game he dedicated himself to.
Ironic, because he is the only player who could be dragged through such muddy waters and emerge just as humble and measured as when he was swept up by them.
Somewhat befitting, because it gave every member of the football world a chance to recognise and respect his integrity – not as a footballer, but as a person.
If life is 10 per cent what happens to you, and 90 per cent how you react to it, then Jobe’s football life has been an immeasurable success.
Jobe was a refreshing change from the institutionalised AFL footballer we see today, who is taught not to evoke any form of emotion or weakness for fear of exploitation. He was never afraid to show us that he was human, and always found a way to convey the anguish and desolation that he was feeling without foregoing any of the class or composure that made him so great.
The image of him in a denim shirt, sitting in front of 33 other players facing doping bans at a press conference in the depths of the supplements saga is the image that comes to my mind when his name is mentioned:
As the other 33 stand behind him, too vexed to speak, their leader addresses the media with honesty, conviction and authenticity.
Like their public relations specialist, Jobe always found a way to appropriately articulate how he and his men were feeling without turning anyone offside.
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Jobe never let anyone take anything from him. He was graceful and one step ahead on and off the field until the end. At the peak of his footballing prowess, he was a first-class reader of the play and master of the ‘underground’ handball, which allowed him to escape contests and confrontations without the natural gifts of speed or power that his opponents all seemed to possess.
When they came for his medal, Jobe surrendered it before anyone asked. When they came for his head, Jobe bowed out gracefully and on his own terms, ensuring we all had a wonderful opportunity to say goodbye.
I love that we have more of Jobe the footballer to look forward to, but I’m not necessarily looking forward to seeing him rack up more clearances, or squirt a handball out of a pack. I’m looking forward to the roar – the noise of the standing ovation that will naturally erupt when he takes a mark on the wing with the clock winding down, no matter the score.
I hope the support and applause helps him feel content in knowing that using all of his energy and resilience to steer this ship through its roughest seas was not a waste, but rather a fulfillment.
It has been a most selfless journey, to guide his club to greener pastures and relinquish his highest personal accolade in the process.
But they can never truly take away that Chas, and by all accounts the AFL haven’t bothered to collect it. And no one cares, because it’s Jobe.
slugger
Guest
not sure about your argument, AFL teams are looking for an edge, I don't think Office Works are under the same sort of pressures :)
Larry1950
Guest
Classy person, definitely! Integrity, has to be questionable after the supplements scandal. Those players who continue to run the argument that they did nothing wrong, just followed club directions, have to be called out on personal integrity. If my employer said we all should have this series of injections of an unnamed substance as it would make us better workers, I think I'd have a problem there.
Jim
Guest
I agree, he'd have demonstrated real class and integrity if he'd handed the medal back when it was clear he had been found guilty rather than delay it as long as possible and play stupid games about where it was. Of course, it should never have come to that as the AFL should have shown a bit of backbone and made it clear he'd forfeited it.
BackYard Centurion
Guest
Thank you for the clarity, and genuine discussion, rather than a fob-off. I was not fully aware of the minutiae. One then asks why he refused to be injected by end-April, just him or the group - or was there by then an awareness of something wrong with the programme (if so, why did no-one pursue clarity then). My primary issue with this article was claiming he was the 'AFL's classiest and most dignified player' - which is subjective at best, and somewhat delusional in my opinion. Good player I will readily admit. To claim 'they can never truly take away that Chas ... And no one cares, because it’s Jobe.' is just wrong. It is taken away, and plenty care about keeping our sport honest and clean. Jobe was part of failing to do this.
matt jones
Guest
you should run
matt jones
Guest
its nice you can bring yourself to believe that
matt jones
Guest
the cleanest person ever to take illegal drugs
Paul Toohey
Guest
Admitted to taking a substance for which they were cleared. In addition, the records show that Jobe Watson was tested in January 2012 and 12 July 2012. Watson hadn’t been injected before February 2012 and refused to be injected by the end of April. Consequently, he cannot be accused of failing to fill out his form correctly. There are two reasons for this, players were asked to nominate any substance taken in the last 7 days which would/ could affect this the test results. So he had not been injected in the January test had not been injected since April for the July test- he filled the form in correctly. Secondly it was not at that point in time it was not compulsory to complete the form! Chersand have a nice day
Aransan
Guest
Cat/Sam/Samantha/Gene, you have used all those monickers to attack Essendon over the supplements saga. What is your interest in this? Perhaps those 30 votes weren't tainted at all except through the prism of those who want to see what they wish. We will never know whether Watson received any advantage from that saga but it was right that he handed back his Brownlow medal and that is what he has done. He has lost his medal, he has served a year suspension from the game but that is not enough for you.
northerner
Guest
That's true. There are a lot of others who had a part in this sad melodrama. But the old saying, "the buck stops here" has to apply to the individual players, Jobe included, who ignored what that really meant.
Fox Molder
Guest
Was injected more times than a junkie. Said nothing. Only handed medal back at last moment after AFL whispered in his ear. Ordinary. Text book puff piece.
northerner
Guest
I'm sorry. There is simply no excuse for taking supplements which you don't know are okay. I've listened for years to athletes claiming they didn't know, or were accidentally drugged or someone put it in their toothpaste. Athletes are responsible for what goes into their bodies. End stop. Not knowing is a failure at the very first instance.
Cat
Roar Guru
30 of those votes are tainted. So really Jobe polled 83 clean votes. Which puts him 1 vote ahead of Aaron Sandilands
Slane
Guest
I doubt many people would consider Trent Cotchin a 'great'. I certainly dont. Maybe if he wins a flag and takes home Norm in the next 5 years.
Aransan
Guest
Jobe Watson polled a career total of 113 votes, Sam Mitchell polled 220 and Trent Cotchin polled a total of 109 votes. Mitchell's career has been outstanding but Watson's record is comparable to Cotchins.
Slane
Guest
He wasn't a great player though. He had one great season that happened to coincide with Essendon's blood doping regiment.
Slane
Guest
Gold.
slugger
Guest
Jobe took supplements that were given by the club, he is not a scientist and he never imagined that the club would ever lead him astray. In any case, I don't barrack for Essendon, he was a great player, I just like him and think he is decent guy and should of be given the respect he deserves. Whilst Carey etc....are perhaps the lowest role models imaginable.
Slane
Guest
In the very first days of the blood doping scandal, when the players had just started peddling the 'I don't know what I was injected with defense'. I remember saying that if Jobe had as much integrity as Essendon fans believed, he would turn in his Brownlow medal because he 'didn't know what he was being injected with'. Integrity is doing the RIGHT thing no matter the consequences.
Ironmonger
Guest
A Greek tragedy with many villains and victims. Watson was certainly not blameless but also let down terribly by those he trusted,