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Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell says the burden of proof required to potentially strip Jobe Watson of his Brownlow medal would be "significant".
Campbell, who caught up with Watson for a chat before he went overseas this week, said it would be "very disappointing" for the captain to be asked to hand back his 2012 Brownlow medal.
He said it was up to Watson and his management to put together a case to go before the AFL Commission, but that the club would make its thoughts known if and when required.
He said Watson, who is set to spend six or eight weeks away, had not made a decision on whether to play on before he flew out to the US.
"It will be up to Jobe and his representatives. If we get asked we'll contribute to that, but it's a question for the AFL Commission," said Campbell, in an interview on Triple M.
"To provide commentary to it, it would be very disappointing knowing Jobe and the person he is, the integrity he holds. But it is a hypothetical.
"All I would say is it is a significant decision they would be making to strip him of the Brownlow. The burden of proof would be pretty significant."
Campbell – who revealed vice-captain Dyson Heppell had a contract offer in front of him – said Watson had seemed in a good state of mind before leaving on his trip.
He said Watson was due to catch up with Cale Hooker, who signed a five-year contract with the Bombers this week, in the next week or two.
"He's in a pretty good place. I caught up with him probably four or five days before he went to the US," Campbell said.
"We had a cup of coffee and chatted and shot the breeze about a whole range of things.
"I feel personally that he's in a really good position. He certainly hasn't made a decision, and it wasn't something I was pressing him for.
"We've made it really clear to him that he has to come to a decision, that he has to be at peace and has to feel like it's the best thing going forward.
"He's a really good person and you want really good people at your football club. I hope Jobe makes that decision, but he needs to make that decision in due course."
