Also reluctant to put a time on when Watson had given back the medal – which is understood to have previously been in New York – but implying he had done so in recent days,the league CEO added he had"no idea"what the AFL would do with the relinquished Brownlow.

"I've always believed Jobe to be a man of great character and integrity and he's demonstrated that again in the last 24 hours,"said McLachlan of Watson,who on Wednesday wasreplaced as Essendon captain by Dyson Heppell.

"This is such a personal matter. The relevant thing is a decision has been made about the Brownlow Medal and the medal has been returned."

Watson announced he was returning the Brownlow Medal in a carefully worded statement last November but made it clear he did not believe his brilliant 2012 season had come as a result of performance-enhancing drugs.

He said it had been"incredibly distressing"to have his integrity questioned and suffer the inference he had acted against the spirit of the game.

"If there is a question in peoples'minds as to whether the 2012 award is tainted,the fairest and best thing to do is to give it back and honour the history that has gone before me."

"I want to make it clear that today's decision does not in any way reflect a change in my personal opinion regarding the CAS finding,but rather reflects my desire to put to a close further speculation about what should be done with the 2012 Brownlow Medal."

However speculation as to the physical whereabouts of the medal continued because McLachlan refused to say whether Watson had actually given it back. The ongoing delicacy around the relinquished Brownlow spilt over into the handling of the new medallists Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.

That sensitivity was shared by Kelly,who struggled personally with the stripped Brownlow on Watson's behalf and when quizzed about the medal responded:"The dog ate it".

McLachlan was also reluctant to elaborate upon his thoughts on James Hird's serious health issues and in one briefing bristled at suggestions the actions of the AFL had contributed to Hird's drug overdose in January.

He also refused to addresscomments by Hird's father Allan,who laid blame at the league,and said he had not spoken to the senior Hird."This is an incredibly difficult situation,"McLachlan said."I feel for James and his family terribly. We're terribly aware of how difficult it is.

"We stand willing here and able to help but we,like everyone else,have been specifically asked by his wife to respect the family's privacy. This is just a really tough situation."