Francis Watson (footballer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis Watson |
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Watson in July 2019
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Francis Watson | ||
| Nickname(s) | Frankie | ||
| Date of birth | 29 September 1995 | ||
| Original team | Claremont (WAFL) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | West Coast | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
Francis Watson (born 29 September 1995) is an Australian rules footballer. He played professionally for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
Francis Watson's Early Life in Football
Francis Watson grew up in a small community called Balgo, Western Australia. This community is located in the East Kimberley region. He started his football journey with the Claremont Football Club.
Playing for Claremont
In 2013, Watson was part of the Claremont Colts team. They won the premiership in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). This was a great start to his career. He made his senior debut for Claremont in 2015. Over 2015 and 2016, he played 19 senior games for the club.
Joining the West Coast Eagles
Because of his Indigenous background, another club, the Fremantle Dockers, wanted him to join their Next Generation Academy. This academy helps young Indigenous players develop their skills. However, the Australian Football League (AFL) did not approve this. They said he had not lived in the Kimberley area for the required time.
This meant Watson could join any club as a "Category B" rookie. This rule helps clubs recruit players from non-traditional football backgrounds. In November 2016, he joined the West Coast Eagles.
Francis Watson's AFL Career
Watson joined the West Coast Eagles in 2016. It took almost three years for him to play his first AFL game.
Making His AFL Debut
He finally made his AFL debut in round 18 of the 2019 AFL season. This was against the Melbourne team. He was a "late inclusion" in the team. This means he was added to the team just before the game started. He replaced the team captain, Shannon Hurn, who had a calf injury. The West Coast Eagles won that game by 13 points.
End of His AFL Journey
After playing only two games for the club, Watson was "delisted" at the end of the 2020 AFL season. Being delisted means a player is removed from the club's list of players. This ended his time with the West Coast Eagles.
