Mark Watson (Australian footballer)

Mark Douglas Anton Watson (born 4 April 1960) is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. He played for Claremont and Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), winning the 1987 Sandover Medal as the league's best player. He also coached South Fremantle for two seasons.

Mark Watson
Personal information
Date of birth (1960-04-04) 4 April 1960
Original team(s) Denmark
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1980–1984 Claremont 73 (66)
1985–1990 Perth 119 (127)
Total 192 (193)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1993–1994 South Fremantle 43 (17-26-0)
Career highlights
  • Sandover Medal: 1987
  • Butcher Medal (Perth B&F): 1987, 1988, 1989
  • WAFL Premiership: 1981

Personal life

Watson grew up on the family dairy farm in Denmark, Western Australia, one of three brothers. He has four children with his wife Gail and worked as a crane operator at Fremantle Ports after leaving football.[1]

Playing career

Watson won four consecutive premierships from 1978 to 1981 as a centreman with Denmark in the Southern Districts Football League. He moved to Perth to train with Claremont.[1] After five senior games in his debut WAFL season in 1980, he had a breakthrough year and played in the club's 1981 premiership victory over South Fremantle.[2]

Watson moved to Perth for the 1985 WAFL season. He won three consecutive Butcher Medals from 1987 to 1989 as the club's best and fairest player.[3] He also won the 1987 Sandover Medal as the league's best and fairest player; his tally of 30 votes was far behind the 46 votes of Derek Kickett, but Kickett was ineligible due to suspension.[1] Watson finished his career at the end of the 1990 WAFL season with a total of 192 games and 193 goals.[2] He also played three state games for WA.[1]

Coaching career

Watson was appointed coach of South Fremantle for the 1993 WAFL season. The team placed fifth, losing to Subiaco in the elimination final, but won only six games the following season to place sixth. He was replaced by club stalwart John Todd.[4] Watson later coached the Rockingham Rams amateur side for four seasons.[1]

References
  1. Newbold, Cameron (14 May 2020). "Great Southern guns – blasts from the past: Sandover medallist Mark Watson's golden premiership run started in Denmark". Albany Advertiser. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. "Player Stats: WATSON, Mark Douglas Anton". WAFL Footy Facts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. "Mark Watson". West Australian Football League. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. "South Fremantle Honour Board". WAFL Footy Facts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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