When the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down its decision, Jobe Watson’s thoughts were far from his Brownlow Medal. For many, the medal was a focal point, but for Watson, the immediate concern was the impact on his teammates and the legacy of the Essendon Football Club.
The ruling, which effectively erased the 2016 season for the active players among the Essendon 34, left a dozen players on the Bombers’ list suspended. Watson, then the captain, was more concerned with the collective impact than his individual accolades.
“The Brownlow was probably more a question as the year went on,” Watson reflected. “It was like a wound that was festering. You get to a point where you accept that you can’t play for 12 months, and that’s the reality. But the Brownlow was a part of that wound that wouldn’t heal.”
The Weight of Legacy and Personal Struggle
Watson, who was forced to return his Brownlow Medal as part of the doping penalties, found the process deeply painful. Yet, he has since found peace, having retired in 2017 and moved to New York, where he started a cafe business, met his wife, Virginia, and later returned to Melbourne as managing director of Watson Property Advisors.
With three young children, Watson contemplates how he will explain the saga to them. “At the moment, I don’t think they actually believe that I played,” he said. “I’ll just explain that sometimes there are things out of your control, and all you can do is deal with the scenario you’re faced with.”
“It takes time, but time heals everything, you know.”
Understanding the Fallout
The saga’s impact on Essendon was profound, affecting not just the players but the entire club’s trajectory. The club’s performance suffered, and the doping scandal became an anchor, dragging down the team’s potential.
“I think it’s been an anchor for the club from that period on,” Watson admitted. “We lost good players, momentum, and the ability for 12 months of footy to improve and play together.”
Former Essendon president Lindsay Tanner echoed these sentiments, highlighting the loss of draft picks as a significant blow. “The impact of the whole issue across on-field outcomes was significant, but there are bigger factors in play,” Tanner noted.
“The consequences we are living through, painful though they are, [are] all consequences that we have effectively brought upon ourselves.”
A Club’s Journey Through Turmoil
The doping saga not only affected the 2016 season but also had a ripple effect on subsequent years. Watson explained that the disruption spanned several seasons, affecting the club’s stability and player development.
“It’s not only like you missed 12 months of footy and it was fine. That’s the frustration,” Watson said. “There’s a five-year period of your career that has been affected. There’s guys who were trying to live their dream, and it was through no fault of their own.”
As Essendon continues to rebuild, the lessons from this period remain a critical part of its history. The club’s journey through this turmoil serves as a cautionary tale for sports organizations worldwide.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains optimistic about the future. “Now I look back at it and there’s still disappointment and frustration, but it’s not something that I dwell on,” he concluded.
The Essendon saga serves as a reminder of the complexities of sports governance and the lasting impact of decisions made in the heat of competition. As Watson and the club move forward, the lessons learned will undoubtedly shape their future paths.
