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Francis Watson
Photo: aflphotos.com
DOB
29/9/95
Height
186cm
Weight
79 kg
Junior club
Claremont/Yardgee JFC
Arrived
Academy selection in the 2017 rookie draft
Number
47 (2017), 26 (2018 - )
Debut
Round 18 2019 vs Melbourne
(248th Eagles player)
Games
2
Goals
0
B&F Top 10
0
Best Finish
31st (2019)
Last app.
{{{Last game}}}
Departed
Delisted at the end of the 2020 season
Other clubs
Claremont (WAFL) 2014-2016, 2021
East Perth (WAFL) 2017-2018

Kimberley product Francis Watson was added to West Coast's list as a Next Generation Academy selection after a couple of standout seasons for Claremont.

West Coast career[]

Originally from the remote Balgo community 250 kilometres from Halls Creek,[1] Watson went undrafted after representing WA in the under-18 competition in 2014. He played senior football for Claremont in 2015 but suffered a broken leg that affected his draft prospects.[2]

When the indigenous academies were introduced in 2016 Fremantle sought exclusive access to Watson but were knocked back,[3] making him available to all teams and the Eagles pounced, signing him as a List B rookie.

Watson caught the eye in the 2017 pre-season with some promising performances during the JLT series, and looked a chance at promotion from the rookie list before suffering an ankle injury that halted his momentum. He couldn't regain his previous form but remained a solid contributor in East Perth's backline.

Shifted from "List B" to the standard rookie list over the offseason to ensure he was available for AFL selection, Watson failed to force his way into a settled backline in 2018, although he was close on a number of occasions. Watson finally made his debut late in the 2019 season, in Alice Springs as a late replacement for skipper Shannon Hurn, and played the following week before returning to the new Eagles reserves side.

Watson was unable to add to his senior tally in 2020, failing to push his way into a settled backline before suffering a knee injury at training that ruled him out for the rest of the year. He was delisted at the end of the season.

Post-AFL career[]

Watson returned to Claremont for the 2021 season, along with Anthony Treacy.[4]

Stats[]

AFL Gm G B K M H D T Cl WAFL Gm G B K M H D T
2017 0 EP 13 1 2 138 55 102 240 48
2018 0 16 0 0 178 81 101 279 47
2019 2 0 0 19 12 8 27 5 1 WCE 14 0 0 157 53 68 225 29
2020 0 N/A
Tot 2 0 0 19 12 8 27 5 1
Avg 0.0 9.5 6.0 4.0 13.5 2.5 0.5

References[]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Watson_(footballer)

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/F/Francis_Watson.html

https://www.wafl.com.au/player/francis-watson

  1. Callum Twomey, afl.com.au (17 July 2014), "Draft prospect Watson's test of character": http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-17/watsons-test-of-character
  2. Dale Miller, The West Australian (29 July 2015), "Clean break big boost for Watson’s AFL draft hopes": https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/clean-break-big-boost-for-watsons-afl-draft-hopes-ng-ya-126450
  3. Nick Rynne, The West Australian (6 September 2016), "AFL rejects Freo's bid to snare rookie Watson": https://thewest.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/afl-rejects-freos-bid-to-snare-rookie-watson-ng-ya-117523
  4. Mitchell Woodcock, The West Australian (2 November 2020), "Claremont Tigers sign former players Francis Watson, Anthony Treacy and Jason Carter for 2021 WAFL season": https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/claremont-tigers-sign-former-players-francis-watson-anthony-treacy-and-jason-carter-for-2021-wafl-season-ng-b881710582z
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