RETIRING Essendon champion Jobe Watson hasn’t spoken to Richmond captain Trent Cotchin since surrendering his Brownlow Medal.

Cotchin rang Watson before he and Sam Mitchell were to be presented with their medallions at a special ceremony in late 2016.

Watson said he didn’t accept his call because the decision to hand in his medal because of a doping ban was painful enough.

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“I haven’t spoken to him about it. I was appreciative of his call,” Watson told Channel 9 last night.

“But I didn’t view Trent or Sam in any different light. I didn’t see them differently.

“I was just hurt at the stage and I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it, and there was a lot of sadness for me.

“I just thought I didn’t want to address it at that time.”

Watson said he was unlikely to attend this year’s Brownlow if he was invited.

He revealed WADA’s decision to appeal the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal decision hit him the hardest when the drugs saga was unfolding.

“I really struggled after the announcement that WADA were going to appeal the decision. I found things really difficult to come to terms with what we were going to be faced with,” he said.

media_camera Jobe Watson handed back his Brownlow Medal last year. Picture: Getty Images

Watson, who announced his retirement earlier this month, said the constant speculation over his future was overwhelming.