Essendon says it will continue to rally around Jobe Watson following his decision to hand back the Brownlow Medal. 

Watson decided to hand back the medal earlier this month, before the AFL then awarded it to joint runners-up Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.

Bombers Coach John Worsfold says he’s looking forward to watching Watson run out with the team in round one and will continue to support the 200 game player.

“He was really looking forward to getting back to playing footy and then just the timing of the Brownlow announcement just as he was about to run back out on the training track with the guys challenged him again,” Worsfold said.

“This was more a personal thing.  He’s been the spokesman for the group for a few years.  Those players have all pretty much moved on and then this hits Jobe in an individual way. 

“We’re saying to Jobe ‘take your time and let it just evolve’.  He’s obviously super fit and training really well, but in terms of does he run out thinking ‘I’m just loving this again’, I would say it has challenged him again.”

Watson has been training at the Club for a fortnight alongside his fellow returning players and the first to fourth year players before the rest of the squad returned on Monday. 

“He’s got a lot of support around him and we support him in taking his time,” Worsfold said.

“This is the toughest period for him as an individual and that first week he was a bit absent minded because he had other things to deal with. 

“He’s been a lot better this week and he’s laughing … I’m confident he’ll be excited about lining up against maybe Jaeger O’Meara in round one.”