AFL Commission names Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell joint winners of 2012 Brownlow Medal

Cotchin said late on Tuesday he accepted the honour “with mixed emotions”.

“I also respect the decision of the AFL Commission and the award that is the Brownlow Medal.

“This has been a difficult time for Jobe, but I have great respect for him, and the decision he made in very tough circumstances.”

Richmond president Peggy O’Neal said Cotchin was a worthy winner who also claimed the Tigers’ best-and-fairest that season.

“We are proud of Trent, he’s a fine captain, player and person, and he is now Richmond’s fifth Brownlow Medallist.”

Mitchell also issued a short statement: “I’m honoured to be named a Brownlow medallist today, but at the same time I feel enormous empathy for Jobe Watson and his family.”

League Commission members met at AFL House today to discuss the fate of the medal, which was handed back to the AFL by Jobe Watson — who wanted to erase any question of whether the medal was “tainted” after he received a doping ban for his role in the club’s 2012 injections regime — last Friday.

Cotchin and Mitchell finished equal runners-up in the 2012 count with 26 votes — four votes behind Watson.

Both players are now Brownlow Medal winners, with Cotchin the first Richmond Brownlow Medallist since Ian Stewart in 1971.

Cotchin and Mitchell will be awarded their medals in Melbourne next month in a private ceremony with family, friends and other invited guests. A date and time is yet to be determined.

AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick — who was part of the eight-person panel that came to the decision at AFL House today — said the decision was unanimous.

“The competition rules today that Jobe Watson was not eligible for the 2012 Brownlow Medal and that in accordance with the AFL regulations, the 2012 Brownlow winners are Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell,” he said.

“The AFL has forwarded its decision to all three players today.

“The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in our game and recognises the best and fairest player.

“I think Jobe’s actually enhanced the award by doing what he did.

“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.

“In stepping forward and handing back the medal, Jobe Watson demonstrated a willingness to consider the game beyond his own personal situation. The impact of this decision on him and his family is one of great sadness for the game. Essendon has apologised to Jobe Watson and the game for the position it placed the club champion.”

League chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the decision was “looked at from every angle”. The significance of the decision was not lost on Mitchell and Cotchin.

“I think they had mixed emotions ... personal satisfaction mixed with incredible disappointment for another of their peers,” McLachlan said.

MchLachlan said there is no real “relief” in the decision despite it seemingly putting a full stop on the drawn-out supplements saga.

“Clearly that feels like it’s the last decision this Commission will have to make. I don’t know if relief is the right word,” he said.

“I think that if there’s a silver lining today, that’s it.

“There are not many days like this where you have a significant personal empathy for the position of someone.

“In this situation — I’ve said this in the past, and whether it’s been at risk or whatever, that I feel that the players are victims here. You’re reconciling that with discharging your duties and doing what you feel is appropriate to protect the integrity of the Brownlow Medal and the integrity of this competition generally.

“When they mix, you don’t want to dwell on it, but clearly that has some challenges. But you just do what you think is appropriate and discharge the duties and that’s what has happened today.