While anti-doping authorities have not been able to declare beyond doubt that thymosin beta 4 was given to the players – WADA's case was based on the "two pillars" of circumstantial evidence and analytical information – Galbally said this would not matter.

Watson and his legal team will have the opportunity of making a submission to the commission. He could decide to hand the medal back before the hearing, thereby avoiding more unwanted headlines, and perhaps even enhancing his reputation.

"It's impossible to imagine he could retain the medal in circumstances when he has been found, along with others, to have embarked upon, at the very least, unfair practices. So how does he win the best and fairest? He doesn't."

"I think their (AFL commission) hands are tied. I don't think their hands were tied before WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) stepped in, but the steps that were taken ... they can't do much," he said.

"I don't think that will hold any weight," he said.

Should Watson face the hearing and, as expected, be stripped of the medal it would likely add to his compensation claim against the Bombers. The claims of the 34 players will focus on several areas, among them being health-and-safety breaches and loss of income and reputation. Industry figures have long maintained Watson's claim would the biggest, potentially for about $5 million.

"Compensation is a very interesting question. If he (Watson) knew what he was doing, who is going to be compensating him? But if he was doing what he was told was fine, perfectly all right, and he acted in the belief that the Essendon Football Club and the medicos and everybody there (approved it) ... he may have a claim," Galbally said.

"But then you have got to show what his loss is. What's his loss? He has had a year out (suspended) but that has been compensated – the club has paid that in salary. Has he lost personal endorsements? Maybe."

But when it came to loss of reputation, Galbally said: "That's the big thing. He being a Brownlow medallist, and the loss of the Brownlow, may be something that is big for him. That may be a consequence. From going from being one of the elite in the AFL, having won the Brownlow Medal as the fairest and best, he now goes down to having it taken from him – there is no way he can recover from that, is there?"