WATSON, Tim

Tim Watson was a brilliant, creative half-forward and later ruck-rover, one of Essendon's greatest-ever players. He made his debut in Round 7, 1977, in a drawn game against Richmond at the age of 15 years and 305 days making him Essendon’s youngest-ever player and the third youngest in League history.

By 1980 Watson's superb ball skills, pace and balance combined to make him one of the League's most dynamic players. He was a strong, aggressive, explosive player who was a great favourite of the fans.

Watson was Essendon's vice-captain from 1982, acting as captain for part of that season. He captained the Club from 1989 to 1991. He won Essendon's Best and Fairest award in 1980, was runner-up in 1982 (equal) and 1983, and won it again in 1985, 1988 and 1989.

He was favourite to win the Brownlow Medal in 1980 but finished fifth behind team-mate Merv Neagle who finished second.

Watson was Essendon's second highest goalkicker in 1980 (42 goals) and third top in 1979 (34 goals). He kicked seven goals in a game in 1979.

He had a stellar year in 1980, winning his first Crichton Medal, finishing third in the Brownlow Medal, representing Victoria (the second youngest State player ever in League history) and being the only League footballer named in The Age's "50 Australians of the Eighties". Not a bad year for a nineteen-year-old!

Watson had the ability to change a game in midstream and was at his best when the stakes were highest. He starred as a ruck-rover in both the 1984 and 1985 premiership wins, after being knocked unconscious early in the 1983 Grand Final. He was also best on the ground in the 1981 night premiership win and starred on the half-forward flank in the 1984 night premiership win. Fans still talk about his superb single-handed swerving, pack-hurdling match-winning goal in the 1981 night Grand Final.

He also represented the State in 1983 and in 1985 when he was vice-captain.

He was named as ruck rover in The Sun All Star team in 1985 and in the Inside Football Team of the Year in 1980. He also won Essendon's Most Determined Player award in 1985.

Disaster struck when Watson badly injured his knee in the third round in 1986 and he also missed most of 1987 with the injury. He made a successful comeback in 1987, but shocked the football world by announcing his retirement at the end of 1991, saying his body could no longer cope with the stresses of League football.

Much to his surprise, he was selected by West Coast in the 1992 Pre-season Draft but informed them that he had no intention of joining them and he was officially delisted.

The following year, Kevin Sheedy felt that Watson still had a lot to offer as a player, and in 1993 convinced him to return as a player and to nurture the development of the young squad. It was a wise move and Watson became part of the famous Baby Bombers premiership team that defeated Carlton in 1993. He was also named as Victoria's Father of the Year in 1993.

Part way through the 1994 season Watson retired from League football for the second and final time with three premiership medals and 307 games, the fourth highest at the Club.

In 1999, Watson became the coach of St Kilda, but didn't enjoy much success and midway through the 2000 season, announced that he would stand down at the end of the year. He then returned to working in the media and enjoyed a long and successful career on radio and TV.

His brother, Larry, played 31 games for Essendon from 1975 to 1978. His son, Jobe, played 220 games, become captain and won three Crichton Medals.

Tim Watson was named at number 6 in the Champions of Essendon (2002). He is depicted as depicted as "Versatility" in the Spirit to Win mural at Windy Hill and is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He was awarded AFL Life membership in 1994.