Tim Watson
Encyclopedia
Timothy Michael "Tim" Watson (born 13 July 1961) is a former Australian rules football
er and coach, sports journalist and media personality.
He is notable for his long career at the Essendon Football Club
as a player where he participated in several premiership teams. He was the third youngest player ever to play in the VFL/AFL competition and made a comeback after retirement which included another premiership.
Watson is a prominent and popular sports journalist and media personality. On television he regularly appears on the Seven Network, where he does the sports reports for the Melbourne
news and provides guest commentary at Australian Football matches. He is also a radio personality where he can be heard on SEN 1116
and their highly popular morning program Morning Glory
.
He won the Essendon best-and-fairest award four times (1980, 1985, 1988 and 1989). In 1989, he won the AFL Players Association
MVP award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy
.
Watson played the ruck-rover in Essendon's 1984 and 1985 grand final victories. He was made captain in 1989 and held that position until 1991, before retiring from the game due to the injury problems that had plagued the later part of his career. In the 1992 pre-season draft
, Watson was recruited by the West Coast Eagles
even though he had signalled his intention to retire. He never played a game for the club, instead continuing a commentary role with the Seven Network
for 1992.
After the 1994 season, Watson retired for good, having played 307 games and kicked 335 goals. Since his retirement, Watson was named the sixth greatest player to ever play for Essendon in the "Champions of Essendon" list, and was named ruck-rover in their "Team of the Century".
. He has also appeared on many football related TV shows, as a sports columnist in The Age newspaper, and a co-host on the Morning Glory show with Andrew Maher, on Melbourne radio station SEN 1116.
also played at Essendon.
In 1993 Watson was named 'Victorian Father of the Year'. In the 2002
National Draft, his son, Jobe Watson
, was drafted by Essendon under the father-son rule
. Tim and Jobe were both coached by the same man, Kevin Sheedy.
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 and coach, sports journalist and media personality.
He is notable for his long career at the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
as a player where he participated in several premiership teams. He was the third youngest player ever to play in the VFL/AFL competition and made a comeback after retirement which included another premiership.
Watson is a prominent and popular sports journalist and media personality. On television he regularly appears on the Seven Network, where he does the sports reports for the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
news and provides guest commentary at Australian Football matches. He is also a radio personality where he can be heard on SEN 1116
SEN 1116
SEN 1116 , the acronym standing for Sports Entertainment Network, is a commercial AM radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, operating on 1116 kHz...
and their highly popular morning program Morning Glory
Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a 1933 pre-Code American drama film which tells the story of an eager but naive would-be actress and her journey to stardom. It stars Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Adolphe Menjou. The movie was adapted by Howard J. Green from the play by Zoe Akins, and was directed...
.
Early career
Watson made his VFL debut in 1977 for Essendon at the age of fifteen years and 305 days, the third youngest player in the history of the League.He won the Essendon best-and-fairest award four times (1980, 1985, 1988 and 1989). In 1989, he won the AFL Players Association
AFL Players Association
The AFL Players Association, or AFLPA, is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players....
MVP award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy
Leigh Matthews Trophy
The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. It is named in honour of Leigh Matthews, who won the first MVP award in 1982, when the league was still known as the Victorian Football League...
.
Watson played the ruck-rover in Essendon's 1984 and 1985 grand final victories. He was made captain in 1989 and held that position until 1991, before retiring from the game due to the injury problems that had plagued the later part of his career. In the 1992 pre-season draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
, Watson was recruited by 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...
even though he had signalled his intention to retire. He never played a game for the club, instead continuing a commentary role with the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
for 1992.
Comeback
Early in the 1993 season Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy lured Watson out of retirement. Although Watson was not as fit as he had once been, and was never able to recapture his top form, he played a vital role in the forward line, kicking some important goals throughout the year. His experience in what was a very young team was instrumental in helping Essendon win an unexpected premiership that year.After the 1994 season, Watson retired for good, having played 307 games and kicked 335 goals. Since his retirement, Watson was named the sixth greatest player to ever play for Essendon in the "Champions of Essendon" list, and was named ruck-rover in their "Team of the Century".
Coaching career
He was the coach of the St Kilda Football Club in 1999 and 2000, his success was limited, with the side winning only 12 of the 44 matches they played while he was in charge. In the 2000 season St Kilda won just two games for the entire season and Watson resigned during the year, forgoing the final year of his three-year contract.Media career
Like many past players, Watson has become a media personality, serving as the Melbourne sports presenter on Seven NewsSeven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
. He has also appeared on many football related TV shows, as a sports columnist in The Age newspaper, and a co-host on the Morning Glory show with Andrew Maher, on Melbourne radio station SEN 1116.
Personal life
During the late 1970s, Watson's brother LarryLarry Watson (footballer)
Larry J. Watson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League and West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
also played at Essendon.
In 1993 Watson was named 'Victorian Father of the Year'. In the 2002
2002 AFL Draft
The 2002 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and the elevation of rookies. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 2002...
National Draft, his son, Jobe Watson
Jobe Watson
Jobe Watson is the captain of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League . He is the son of former Essendon player Tim Watson.-Early life:...
, was drafted by Essendon under the father-son rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
. Tim and Jobe were both coached by the same man, Kevin Sheedy.