Essendon great Tim Watson says his son Jobe is not concerned about the possibility of losing his Brownlow Medal as part of the Essendon doping scandal.
The Bombers are in damage control after they confirmed they are being investigated by the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) over the possible use of banned substances by their players.
It is unknown what sanctions, if any, the club will face, but ASADA have warned the repercussions could be "extremely serious".
Speaking exclusively to 7 News, club legend Watson says he was shocked when the news broke.
“I was like most people yesterday ... I was alarmed and shocked to read and hear drugs and Essendon football club mentioned in the same breath," he said.
"I was completely shocked and taken aback by that yesterday."
The former Bombers star said he spoke to his son at length about the scandal.
Watson said his concerns that his son could be stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal have been allayed.
"(Losing the Brownlow) would be devastating but (Jobe's) not concerned about that, and because he’s not concerned about that, I’m not concerned about that either," Watson said.
"I have spoken to Jobe and I was concerned, but I had a good convo with him this morning.
“It was the first time I’d spoken to him about it since the story broke yesterday. I have got an acute understanding now of what’s taken place."
Watson Jnr took home the game's highest individual honour last year despite his side finishing in 11th place.
The Bombers great said that the players were ultimately responsible for what they took during any fitness regime.
“Every player has to be responsible for what they put in their mouths and I think they are well versed in that as well at an AFL level," Watson said.
"Having been in that situation myself, you put a lot of trust in other people above where you are too.
"You have to share that responsibility, but ultimately, if anyone has done anything untoward and outside the rules, then they will then be punished accordingly and individually."
He also said there had been an element of the players and fans being let down by the club and he queried the checks that were in place when new people were brought in.
"Football clubs have got to responsible for who they employ and the right checks need to be conducted. Then they have to have the right supervision," he said.
"When the dust settles on this and we know all that has been investigated and what comes out of the investigation, I’m sure there’s going to be a really in depth and critical internal investigation of the Essendon football club too."
10 Comments
This is not a good look however Essended did initiate the issue with ASADA not the other way around,credit to the bombers for that.The Adelaide crows did a similar thing regard the Kurt Tippett case,initiated proceedings with the AFL officials.I am sure Jobe Watson does not deserve to lose his brownlow medal and by the way they did not even get into the Grand Final,not that it matters if they have done the wrong thing and time will tell if they have!
Replyhow a bout we all wait to see what has gone on? As usual a pack of ferals commenting from ignorance.
ReplyYeh chuck em out, cheats cheats dopes...take the medal off Jobe as they do in the Olympics and other sports. They should be stood down from this years comp until they sort this out..fine them big
ReplyThey cheated to win the 2000 premiership and they cheated again to win nothing. This is a club with a dark history, I have lost all respect for this club (assuming the new allegations are correct.)
Replyyou idiots!!!! If Essendon took performance enhancing drugs - they didn't work - they finished in the middle to bottom and got no joy out of it........... Jobe - regardless of what you say - is the best player in the AFL and fully deserved his Brownlow.......... Did Ben Cousins lose his medal? and with him - they won a premiership and lost one by a point!!!!!! BACK OFF !!! Idiots..................
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