Jack Watts (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jack Watts is an Australian rules football
er for the Melbourne Football Club
, in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He had a promising junior career and was the number one draft pick in the 2008 AFL Draft
.
, and attended Brighton Grammar School
competing in the Associated Public Schools of Victoria
(APS). He represented Vic Metro in 2008, winning the Larke Medal and All-Australian honours and performed well at the 2008 AFL Draft Camp. He recorded the second fastest time by a non-indigenous player in the 20 metres sprint with 2.82 seconds.
, it was widely tipped that Melbourne
, possessing the 1st overall selection would take either Watts, Nic Naitanui of Swan Districts
, or Daniel Rich
of Subiaco
. Ultimately on 29 November 2008, Watts was selected by Melbourne with the 1st overall pick of the 2008 Draft.
, by another club legend, Ron Barassi
, in a ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
on 1 December 2008.
against the Collingwood Football Club
in the AFL
annual Queen's Birthday Clash
at the MCG
on Monday, 8 June. Unfortunately for young Watts, his team was defeated by 66 points (11 goals) at the hands of the in-form Collingwood
.
, Melbourne's affiliate club, in the VFL
. Watts played his first match for Melbourne in 2010, in round 8, against the West Coast Eagles
, at the MCG
. Watts had 15 possessions and took several contested marks, in a solid performance. The match was notable for the fact that it was the first time Watts had played against his draft contemporary; Nic Naitanui. Naitanui was the number two pick from the 2008 draft, where opinion was divided on who would be taken at number one.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He had a promising junior career and was the number one draft pick in the 2008 AFL Draft
2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
.
Early life
Though a skilled junior footballer, Watts was also a very promising junior basketball player who could have pursued a professional career in the sport after representing Victoria in under 18 state titles but decided instead to focus on an AFL career.TAC Cup and APS
Watts played under 18 football with the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC CupTAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
, and attended Brighton Grammar School
Brighton Grammar School
Brighton Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Brighton, a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
competing in the Associated Public Schools of Victoria
Associated Public Schools of Victoria
The Associated Public Schools of Victoria are a group of eleven elite independent schools in Victoria, Australia, similar to the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales in New South Wales....
(APS). He represented Vic Metro in 2008, winning the Larke Medal and All-Australian honours and performed well at the 2008 AFL Draft Camp. He recorded the second fastest time by a non-indigenous player in the 20 metres sprint with 2.82 seconds.
2008 AFL Draft
In the lead up to the 2008 AFL Draft2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
, it was widely tipped that Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, possessing the 1st overall selection would take either Watts, Nic Naitanui of Swan Districts
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
, or Daniel Rich
Daniel Rich
Daniel Rich is a current Australian rules football player for the Brisbane Lions. He was selected with the Brisbane Lions' first selection in the 2008 National Draft.-Pre-AFL career:...
of Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
. Ultimately on 29 November 2008, Watts was selected by Melbourne with the 1st overall pick of the 2008 Draft.
AFL career
Watts was awarded Melbourne's No. 4 guernsey, a guernsey previously worn by club legend Norm SmithNorm Smith
Norman Walter "Norm" Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League. After 200 games as a player with Melbourne and Fitzroy, Smith began a twenty year coaching career, including a fifteen year stint at Melbourne...
, by another club legend, Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
, in a ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
on 1 December 2008.
2009: Debut
Watts made his debut for the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
against the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
annual Queen's Birthday Clash
Queen's Birthday Clash
The Queen's Birthday Holiday clash is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League teams Melbourne and Collingwood, held on the Queen's Birthday Holiday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .-History:...
at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
on Monday, 8 June. Unfortunately for young Watts, his team was defeated by 66 points (11 goals) at the hands of the in-form Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
2010: Attempts to prove critics wrong
After a small injury in the pre-season Watts began the 2010 season slowly, playing for the Casey ScorpionsCasey Scorpions
The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
, Melbourne's affiliate club, in the VFL
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
. Watts played his first match for Melbourne in 2010, in round 8, against the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
. Watts had 15 possessions and took several contested marks, in a solid performance. The match was notable for the fact that it was the first time Watts had played against his draft contemporary; Nic Naitanui. Naitanui was the number two pick from the 2008 draft, where opinion was divided on who would be taken at number one.