Jobe Watson says he is still hurting from his agonising call to cede his 2012 Brownlow Medal, as former teammates said they were "shattered" for the Essendon captain.
Watson returned to training on Monday for the first time since revealing on Friday he would hand back the medal, won in a year when the Bombers ran their supplements and injecting program from which 34 players were ultimately suspended on anti-doping charges.
He opted to return the medal after the appeal by the 34 players to the Swiss Federal Court was dismissed.
Watson, 31, was able to escape the spotlight during his suspension last season by escaping to New York, but the cameras have been omnipresent since his return, and were again on hand on Monday at the Bombers' Tullamarine base.
He said it would take time before he came to terms with having to hand back a medal that represents being the fairest and best player in a season.
"I guess it'll be something that eventually I'll move on from, but at the moment it hurts a bit," he said.
The AFL Commission will rule on Tuesday whether the medal is awarded retrospectively to the 2012 joint runners-up - Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin.
Opinion is divided over whether that should happen, with Watson declaring he did not have a stance. There is a school of thought that the award should be null and void for that season. The AFL Commission is reportedly split on what call to make.
Watson said on Friday he would like to share his thoughts with the commission over how evidence during the doping investigation and hearings was used. He clearly does not agree with the CAS findings.
"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," Watson said.
The Bombers have said they "take responsibility for placing Jobe in this position and unreservedly apologises to him and his family".
Port Adelaide forward Angus Monfries, who was also suspended last season, said on Monday he was devastated for his former teammate.
"As a friend of Jobe's, I'm shattered for him. It's not a nice situation for him to be put in," he said.
"I'm just shattered for a friend that he's been put in that position."
Monfries and fellow former Bomber Paddy Ryder began training with the Power's first-to-fourth-year players last week but their restrictions as a result of the anti-doping ban were only fully lifted on Monday.
"It was exciting last week to wake up and get in the car and drive to training, to see all the coaches and the boys again," Monfries said.
"It's definitely been a long year, but I'm glad it's all over and I'm now able to rock up and train and enjoy footy again.
"When we were allowed back at the club (on September 14), that was a big day.
"I basically tried to do as much outside of footy to improve myself and obviously watch the boys and try to support them as best as I could and look forward to the day I was able to come back."
Monfries has been given a one-year contract extension and says he is under "no illusions" he will have to fight to reclaim his spot in the side.
Power coach Ken Hinkley is under growing pressure after again failing to make the finals in 2016, but the return of frontline ruckman Ryder will be a major boost.
Ryder, at times, struggled to deal with his ban, but is ready to again prosper.
"We did a lot together and tried to help each other to get through," Monfries said.
"I think Paddy in the ruck is going to be a huge inclusion for us.
"Someone of his class to go into the centre square and do what he does there and then have that versatility to go forward and hit the scoreboard is going to be great for us."