As Essendon players prepared to celebrate their captain Jobe Watson's 2012 Brownlow Medal win, they admitted they were relieved the club's poor finish to the season had not cost him the game's highest individual honour.
Watson won this year's Brownlow on 30 votes, four votes ahead of Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell and Richmond's Trent Cotchin.
Watson polled two-thirds of his votes in the first 11 rounds when Essendon's record was 8-3, with his ability to catch the umpires' eyes understandably waning as the Bombers came home with just three wins in the second half of the season, losing their last seven matches.
Scott Gumbleton and Angus Monfries were two of a group of Bombers who flocked to Crown Casino after the Brownlow count to help Watson celebrate his win.
Gumbleton, who lives with Watson and his sister, said he was relieved when his housemate was able to withstand late charges from Cotchin and Mitchell.
""It's a great feeling. He really deserves it,"" Gumbleton said.
""We were a bit worried about the finish to the year but the three votes against Adelaide (in round 19) I think was the one that clinched it.
""It was great when he got those three votes. I thought he had it then.""
Monfries praised Watson's 2012 form and said winning the Brownlow would not change him one bit.
""I thought his start to the year was amazing. I think he polled in 10 out of 12 games to start with and it really put him in a good position,"" Monfries said.
""Fortunately, he was lucky enough to hold on and poll in games we didn't do too well in late in the season.
""But he's not the sort of bloke to let this affect him. Jobe is all about the team.
""He's a great leader and a great captain and it's great for him to win this personal accolade.""
Fellow Bomber Patrick Ryder was one of the Bombers who spent the Brownlow count with Watson inside the Crown Palladium ballroom.
Ryder said Watson was feeling the pressure towards the end of the count.
""It was pretty nerve-wracking all night and it's good to have our captain win in light of his own year, but especially the way he carried the club all season,"" Gumbleton said.
""He handled [the count] pretty well but that was the most nervous I've seen him. Normally he's pretty cool but he was nervous tonight.""
Sitting alongside Watson at his victory press conference, Essendon coach James Hird said his skipper's passion, work ethic and personal qualities made him an extremely worthy winner.
""We've seen him work his backside off since he came to the football club and he wasn't the fittest guy, he wasn't the most talented guy,"" Hird said.
""But that doesn't necessarily get you anywhere – talent and fitness – but the work ethic and desire to be the best gets you somewhere.
""I've seen Jobe develop from a young boy to where he is now and it is just an amazing transformation and says a lot about his character and … his family.""
