I don't know Jobe personally but he appears to be a quality human being who happens to be a quality footballer. However, the rules are clear and concise and state what they state.. He must forfeit his awards which includes the Brownlow Medal. Do it sooner rather than later and let him restart with a clean slate.
Carndablues - 8 years ago
Do you remember the movie "A few good men". "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth. The two officers (defendants) were found not guilty but still discharged. The general cops it. It was a good movie. Might I also remind you of an old saying " a fish stinks from the head ", but that doesn't mean that it's tail is odourless. THE BEST AND FAIREST AND "FAIREST". Others before him have gotten away with it can't be an excuse. Just take it off him what's fair is fair.
sneffa - 8 years ago
This has been totally unbelievable from day 1 - simple fact of the matter is that Jobe did not put a needle in his arm to treat an illness or for a vaccination to prevent an illness, but for the sole purpose to gain a performance advantage. He is guilty and is rightly convicted and labeled a drug cheat he crossed the line.
sneffa - 8 years ago
This has been totally unbelievable from day 1 - simple fact of the matter is that Jobe did not put a needle in his arm to treat an illness or for a vaccination to prevent an illness, but for the sole purpose to gain a performance advantage. He is guilty and is rightly convicted and labeled a drug cheat he crossed the line.
Loch - 8 years ago
Jobe Watson admitted to taking a banned substance. The club told him it was legal but it wasn't. I watched this admission, it was on Fox Footy's On The Couch. I urge everyone to look it up. It is black and white. They took banned supplements. It is a trajectory and the club is to blame imo. Hand it back Jobe. Stop defending them everyone else and get on with life.
Every athlete is responsible for everything that they take and the price they have to pay is that they get stripped of any medals. Jobe should hand the Brownlow back.
He is the only winner of the medal to be found guilty of taking a performance enhancing drug in the year he won the medal and unfortunately the price he has to pay is to hand it back.
Unlike other comments there is no Pandora's box here as no other winner has been found guilty by WADA, time to move on and give it to the rightful winners.
Sick of AFL - 8 years ago
If Watson losses his so should Cousin and Carey and a few others
WhiteKnuckles - 8 years ago
Seriously how is this a difficult decision for the AFL? Hearing should take no longer than 5 minutes given the guilty decision, the AFL have no option but to strip him of the medal.
David Pearn - 8 years ago
They were all found guilty of lying and conspiracy to lie.
The Watson family are paragons of virtue in every respect acknowledged by everyone associated with the game and this is a massive injustice to a loyal servant of the club who's greatest fault was his trusting nature of fellow professionals.
There were NO positives nor was there the slightest indication of any performance enhancement by any of the players.
It seems they should have applied for a TUE for soft tissue injuries instead.
Mark - 8 years ago
Ben Johnson 100m Olympic and lance Armstrong tour Du France - can get their titles back if Jobe keeps his brownlow
Brendan - 8 years ago
Why does an foreign court have influence over a uniquely Australian game that is just about always only played in Australia? This smacks of the days of the Privy Council. Leave the Brownlow with Watson and hang the consequences. We are an independent nation.
Lois - 8 years ago
Totally agree with comments by Liz. He won his medal fairly. Bombers treated badly. Like she said u trust your "doctors trainers "etc to look after you. He should keep his medal
Greg - 8 years ago
Despite ASADA/WADA/CAS there is too much uncertainty remaining.
I believe the severe penalties the AFL laid on players/coach and club in 2013 should have been enough.
Why were there no positive test results?
Why did 12 players on the list escape show cause notices?
Why did at least one of those 12 escape a show cause notice even though they participated in the program?
Why is the law not interested in pursuing Stephen Dank for grievous bodily harm or assault?
Why has Stephen Dank never been tested in any court so that his evidence can be tested?
Who started the exposing of what was taking place at Essendon in 2012 - are they free of compromising motives?
Tracey Ames - 8 years ago
The AFL have no option but to take the medal off Jobe Watson. Should the AFL go against WADA's rules, then Lance Armstrong, along with many Olympic Gold Medalists, Grand Slam tennis winners, and others, should all have their victories given back. You can't have rules for some and not for others.
Jobe Watson should make it very easy for the AFL by handing his medal back. He will win far more hearts that way, than fight the cause and be stripped of his Medal. Players need to know the rules and adhere to them, ignorance is no excuse.
Tony - 8 years ago
Jobe Watson is a superb player and a good club man but he is an intelligent individual and he must have had some doubt in his mind re the 'meds' being prescribed. Additionally when you consider Jobe Watson is the son of an experienced league footballer warning bells must have been ringing. He must have his medals confiscated.
Hibbo3909 - 8 years ago
AND, can anybody tell me what happened about the report commissioned by the AFL, and subsequently buried, which discovered that a large number of other AFL clubs had their own "supplements" programs operating at the same time as Essendon were allegedly doping their players? Glen's Pandora's box wiuld have been well and truly opened had that seen the light of day. Different rules for different folks. How about "three strikes Franklin"?
Hibbo3909 - 8 years ago
I'm still stunned that on the basis of absolutely NO evidence, these people can continue to be punished severely. I hope Demetriou (who?) is enjoying this. It will be an absolute disgrace should this happen.
Dave - 8 years ago
I am not a Bombers supporter but Jobe Watson has been an outstanding player, and should not lose his Bronlow Medal. Watch the add for the Light and Easy Meals with Hawthorns Luke Hodge, and listen carefully to the words about 'Trust' . Personally that says it all.
Liz - 8 years ago
Totally agree with Glen & 'non bomber'. Exactly, these boys do not feel that they are in any position to argue with senior and supposedly medical people in the AFL team, nor would they have any medical knowledge. They're absolutely entitled to believe these people are not going to harm them physically or compromise them in any illegal event. It is incomprehensible that the victims of irresponsible behaviour are continuing to be punished over and over again.
Glen - 8 years ago
Pandoras Box
What about Dane Swan? Wasn't he flying to the US to do altitude training.?
That type of training has been stopped by Collingwood now. Why
Was it illegal?
Arkemenis was using blood doping/cooling vests/oxygenated transfusions when he won his medal. That sort of training isn't used anymore. Why. Wasn't it legal?
Strip Dane of his Brownlow
Non Bomber - 8 years ago
I believe too much responsibility is placed on the players, many of whom are just out of secondary school. If someone I trusted told me the meds were legal and safe I would accept their word. I would defer to their knowledge and experience. I suspect Peter Jess is correct about Jobe Watson having to return the Brownlow Medal, however, it wouldn't do his reputation any harm if he voluntarily returned It.
Unfortunately the players have been the victims of some very poor decisions by people in authority who should have known better. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful gift.
I don't know Jobe personally but he appears to be a quality human being who happens to be a quality footballer. However, the rules are clear and concise and state what they state.. He must forfeit his awards which includes the Brownlow Medal. Do it sooner rather than later and let him restart with a clean slate.
Do you remember the movie "A few good men". "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth. The two officers (defendants) were found not guilty but still discharged. The general cops it. It was a good movie. Might I also remind you of an old saying " a fish stinks from the head ", but that doesn't mean that it's tail is odourless. THE BEST AND FAIREST AND "FAIREST". Others before him have gotten away with it can't be an excuse. Just take it off him what's fair is fair.
This has been totally unbelievable from day 1 - simple fact of the matter is that Jobe did not put a needle in his arm to treat an illness or for a vaccination to prevent an illness, but for the sole purpose to gain a performance advantage. He is guilty and is rightly convicted and labeled a drug cheat he crossed the line.
This has been totally unbelievable from day 1 - simple fact of the matter is that Jobe did not put a needle in his arm to treat an illness or for a vaccination to prevent an illness, but for the sole purpose to gain a performance advantage. He is guilty and is rightly convicted and labeled a drug cheat he crossed the line.
Jobe Watson admitted to taking a banned substance. The club told him it was legal but it wasn't. I watched this admission, it was on Fox Footy's On The Couch. I urge everyone to look it up. It is black and white. They took banned supplements. It is a trajectory and the club is to blame imo. Hand it back Jobe. Stop defending them everyone else and get on with life.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-24/bomber-watson-admits-taking-banned-drug/4777342
Every athlete is responsible for everything that they take and the price they have to pay is that they get stripped of any medals. Jobe should hand the Brownlow back.
He is the only winner of the medal to be found guilty of taking a performance enhancing drug in the year he won the medal and unfortunately the price he has to pay is to hand it back.
Unlike other comments there is no Pandora's box here as no other winner has been found guilty by WADA, time to move on and give it to the rightful winners.
If Watson losses his so should Cousin and Carey and a few others
Seriously how is this a difficult decision for the AFL? Hearing should take no longer than 5 minutes given the guilty decision, the AFL have no option but to strip him of the medal.
They were all found guilty of lying and conspiracy to lie.
The Watson family are paragons of virtue in every respect acknowledged by everyone associated with the game and this is a massive injustice to a loyal servant of the club who's greatest fault was his trusting nature of fellow professionals.
There were NO positives nor was there the slightest indication of any performance enhancement by any of the players.
It seems they should have applied for a TUE for soft tissue injuries instead.
Ben Johnson 100m Olympic and lance Armstrong tour Du France - can get their titles back if Jobe keeps his brownlow
Why does an foreign court have influence over a uniquely Australian game that is just about always only played in Australia? This smacks of the days of the Privy Council. Leave the Brownlow with Watson and hang the consequences. We are an independent nation.
Totally agree with comments by Liz. He won his medal fairly. Bombers treated badly. Like she said u trust your "doctors trainers "etc to look after you. He should keep his medal
Despite ASADA/WADA/CAS there is too much uncertainty remaining.
I believe the severe penalties the AFL laid on players/coach and club in 2013 should have been enough.
Why were there no positive test results?
Why did 12 players on the list escape show cause notices?
Why did at least one of those 12 escape a show cause notice even though they participated in the program?
Why is the law not interested in pursuing Stephen Dank for grievous bodily harm or assault?
Why has Stephen Dank never been tested in any court so that his evidence can be tested?
Who started the exposing of what was taking place at Essendon in 2012 - are they free of compromising motives?
The AFL have no option but to take the medal off Jobe Watson. Should the AFL go against WADA's rules, then Lance Armstrong, along with many Olympic Gold Medalists, Grand Slam tennis winners, and others, should all have their victories given back. You can't have rules for some and not for others.
Jobe Watson should make it very easy for the AFL by handing his medal back. He will win far more hearts that way, than fight the cause and be stripped of his Medal. Players need to know the rules and adhere to them, ignorance is no excuse.
Jobe Watson is a superb player and a good club man but he is an intelligent individual and he must have had some doubt in his mind re the 'meds' being prescribed. Additionally when you consider Jobe Watson is the son of an experienced league footballer warning bells must have been ringing. He must have his medals confiscated.
AND, can anybody tell me what happened about the report commissioned by the AFL, and subsequently buried, which discovered that a large number of other AFL clubs had their own "supplements" programs operating at the same time as Essendon were allegedly doping their players? Glen's Pandora's box wiuld have been well and truly opened had that seen the light of day. Different rules for different folks. How about "three strikes Franklin"?
I'm still stunned that on the basis of absolutely NO evidence, these people can continue to be punished severely. I hope Demetriou (who?) is enjoying this. It will be an absolute disgrace should this happen.
I am not a Bombers supporter but Jobe Watson has been an outstanding player, and should not lose his Bronlow Medal. Watch the add for the Light and Easy Meals with Hawthorns Luke Hodge, and listen carefully to the words about 'Trust' . Personally that says it all.
Totally agree with Glen & 'non bomber'. Exactly, these boys do not feel that they are in any position to argue with senior and supposedly medical people in the AFL team, nor would they have any medical knowledge. They're absolutely entitled to believe these people are not going to harm them physically or compromise them in any illegal event. It is incomprehensible that the victims of irresponsible behaviour are continuing to be punished over and over again.
Pandoras Box
What about Dane Swan? Wasn't he flying to the US to do altitude training.?
That type of training has been stopped by Collingwood now. Why
Was it illegal?
Arkemenis was using blood doping/cooling vests/oxygenated transfusions when he won his medal. That sort of training isn't used anymore. Why. Wasn't it legal?
Strip Dane of his Brownlow
I believe too much responsibility is placed on the players, many of whom are just out of secondary school. If someone I trusted told me the meds were legal and safe I would accept their word. I would defer to their knowledge and experience. I suspect Peter Jess is correct about Jobe Watson having to return the Brownlow Medal, however, it wouldn't do his reputation any harm if he voluntarily returned It.
Unfortunately the players have been the victims of some very poor decisions by people in authority who should have known better. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful gift.