Jobe Watson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jobe Watson |
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Watson playing for Essendon in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Jobe Watson | ||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 40 (F/S), 2002 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 13, 2003, Essendon v. Geelong, at Telstra Dome |
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| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Jobe Watson (born 8 February 1985) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Jobe is the son of Tim Watson, a famous Essendon player who won three premierships.
Jobe was chosen by Essendon in the 2002 draft under the father–son rule. He became one of the best midfielders of his time. He was named an All-Australian twice and won the Crichton Medal three times. He was also the captain of Essendon from 2010 to 2016.
Jobe Watson was one of many players who faced a challenging time due to a club issue. This led to him being suspended for the entire 2016 AFL season. He had originally won the Brownlow Medal for the 2012 season, which is given to the league's best and fairest player. However, he later gave the medal back in 2016 because of the suspension. After his suspension, he returned to play for one more season before retiring.
Today, Jobe Watson works as an AFL commentator for the Seven Network. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Tim, who is also a commentator.
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Early Life and Junior Football
Jobe Watson grew up in Melbourne, Australia. He went to Xavier College in Kew. For a few years, he attended Xavier's junior campus in Brighton.
He started playing junior football with the East Sandringham Junior Football Club. He also played for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup. His father, Tim Watson, played over 300 games for Essendon and won three premierships. Tim also captained Essendon and later became a coach.
AFL Career Highlights
Jobe Watson was drafted by Essendon in 2002. He was picked under the father–son rule, which allows clubs to draft sons of former players. At first, his coach, Kevin Sheedy, tried him as a key forward. However, Jobe's kicking needed work, so he moved to the midfield.
In his early years, some people criticized his weight. But over time, he worked hard and became one of the best midfielders in the AFL.
Becoming a Star Midfielder
In 2009, Jobe had a great season. He won Essendon's best-and-fairest award, the Crichton Medal. He also received many votes for the Brownlow Medal. By the end of 2009, he was known as Essendon's most important midfielder. He also improved his kicking skills a lot.
On 21 December 2009, Jobe Watson was announced as the new captain of Essendon. He took over from Matthew Lloyd, who had retired.
Even though Essendon had a tough season in 2010, Jobe had a successful first year as captain. He was very consistent and finished high in the Brownlow Medal count. He also won his second Crichton Medal, showing how important he was to the team.
Brownlow Medal and All-Australian Honours
In 2011, Jobe had another strong season, even though he missed some games due to injury. He finished second in the Crichton Medal.
Jobe had an amazing 2012 season. He won the Brownlow Medal with 30 votes. This award is for the best and fairest player in the league. However, he later gave the medal back because of a club issue that led to a suspension. Along with the Brownlow, he won his third Crichton Medal. He also won the AFLPA best captain award and was chosen for the 2012 All-Australian team.
In 2013, Jobe continued to play well, even with a collarbone injury. He was again runner-up for the Crichton Medal and was named in the 2013 All-Australian team. Between 2006 and 2013, Jobe was always one of the top two players for the Crichton Medal votes.
Jobe started the 2014 season well, but then he injured his hip. This meant he missed ten weeks of playing. He returned for the last few games and Essendon's final match. That year, he was also selected for the Australian team to play in the 2014 International Rules Series. Australia won the series, and Jobe was one of the best players.
Final Seasons and Retirement
In 2015, Jobe continued to lead his team despite some challenges. In Round 14, he played his 200th AFL game. After that match, he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. He was later suspended for the entire 2016 season due to the club's supplements issue.
Jobe played his first game in over 18 months in 2017. This was also his first game since 2009 where he wasn't the captain. He made a successful return to football. On 9 August 2017, Jobe announced he would retire at the end of the season. He played three more games, with his final match being an elimination final loss. Jobe finished his career having played 220 games for Essendon.
Honours and Achievements
- Essendon captain: 2010–2016
- 2× All-Australian team: 2012, 2013
- 3× Crichton Medal: 2009, 2010, 2012
- AFLPA best captain award: 2012
- Australia representative honours in international rules football: 2014
- Yiooken Award: 2013
Coaching Role
After retiring from playing, Jobe Watson returned to his old school, Xavier College. He became the senior coach of their football team for the 2023 season.
Off-Field Activities
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While he was unable to play in 2014 due to injury, Jobe started doing commentary work for the Seven Network. He continued this work after retiring, joining Seven's commentary team full-time in 2020.
During his suspension in 2016, Jobe worked at a coffee shop in New York City. He also has business interests in the United States, including cafes and a gym.
In June 2019, Jobe took part in the Big Freeze at the 'G. This event raises money for the Cure for MND Foundation, a charity that supports research into motor neuron disease.
Personal Life
Jobe Watson met Virginia Slaghekke, a model from the Netherlands, in New York City in 2016. They started dating in August 2016. Virginia, who was studying neuroscience, later moved to Melbourne to support Jobe during his final AFL season. They now have two children together.
