Nick Watson AFL draft profile: The small forward set to be taken top 10

Top-five draft prospect Nick Watson already knows how fickle being a talented footballer can be. He speaks to SAM LANDSBERGER about the barbs which forced his school to file a complaint.

MELBOURNE. 13/05/2023. AFL. Australian under 18s vs Carlton VFL at Marvel Stadium. Nick Watson . Pic: Michael Klein

Nick Watson and his best mate Harley Reid are the drawcards of the AFL draft.

The box-office beauties with public profiles in a mould that is usually reserved for athletes in the US.

The crowd-pullers have more than 50,000 Instagram followers combined and sponsors wanting to sign them up

“He’s (Reid) with Puma and I’m looking to go with Nike,” Watson said on Saturday.

“My manager ‘Giesch’ (Nick Gieschen) is in talks with them, so hopefully we can get a deal with them for boots and maybe clothes even.”

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Watson has already worked out the fickleness of fame.

He was shocked by the attention from “feral” fans at a school game against Geelong Grammar this year.

Geelong was thumped, but when Watson was tackled he thought the locals celebrated like they had won the flag.

Caulfield Grammar lodged a complaint and Watson lodged his own on the field … talking “smack” back to them after every goal.

Nick Watson trains on Saturday. Picture: Michael Klein

Watson reckons the mouthing off zaps him with motivation.

When Watson raised his index finger to his nose to silence the crowd (“shhh”) in the APS grand final against Haileybury tensions escalated.

Post-match a bunch of cowardly supporters tagged Watson in Instagram comments saying “nice loss”.

Some even created fake accounts to send him private messages.

Fancy creating a burner account to abuse a school footballer?

And it was literally small talk.

“They normally have a go at my height. Call me ‘midget’ and stuff like that,” Watson said.

“I copped it as much as I ever have this year, which is not good.

“But it’s part of footy, really, and part of my game as well because I give it back to the crowd sometimes.”

Nick Watson in action for the AFL Academy. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Watson felt like that goal celebration was the only thing he did to stir the pot against Haileybury.

It’s not as if he started any fights, so why was no other teammate copping it?

He couldn’t understand it.

“I don’t know why they hate on me for being who I am at 170cm,” he said.

Fortunately it has helped steel him for next season, when he is likely to be lighting up the forward line for Hawthorn, Melbourne or Western Bulldogs.

Wil that ‘shhh’ celebration make it to the big time?

AFL Draft hopefuls Caleb Windsor, Nick Watson, Ryley Sanders, Colby McKercher and Tew Jiath. Picture: Michael Klein

“I like that celebration, I’ll probably keep it for the AFL one day,” he said.

Phew.

Football needs personality and whichever club gets their hand on this whizz kid had better not shake that spunk out of him.

It sounds as though they won’t.

“Some of them love my personality and getting around the crowds and making footy fun, really,” Watson said.

“Hawthorn asked me about it earlier in the year. Most clubs ask, but they know what I’m like because they watch a lot of my footy.

“With, Essendon Dodoro loved my personality. He loves when I get up and about.”

When the Demons interviewed Watson at draft combine the goalkicker was intent on making coach Simon Goodwin giggle.

Nick Watson shows off his tricks for Eastern Ranges. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“I actually can’t remember what I said to him, I had a few jokes at combine,” Watson said.

“He loved it I think. Well, hopefully he did! But it’s all part of my personality, really.

“I’m outgoing and love to chat.”

Goodwin clearly had no problem with it, because a couple of days ago the Demons took Watson out for coffee.

That followed his visit to Hawthorn last week, where he was interviewed briefly by coach Sam Mitchell.

Mitchell was overlooked in the 2000 draft because of his stature. Did they reflect on his journey?

“Not really. I just talked a bit of crap with him about his height,” Watson said.

“He got a photo with me and I was like, ‘I’ve got you covered now’.”

Watson playing for Vic Metro in 2021. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

Watson’s height only appears to be a problem for others.

He was told early that he could control his craft but not his height, and so he did.

Perhaps his personal life has helped. Watson is dating Carlton’s AFLW midfielder Keeley Sherar (26 games) and often they go for a kick or to play basketball or tennis.

Watson’s dedication to the Sherrin has delivered some of junior footy’s wildest thrills.

What was Watson’s favourite goal?

“A massive torpedo 65m after the siren,” he said.

“It was halftime and I’ve marked it 55m out, and just got on to the best barrel up at Healesville.”

Favourite mark? This is one that Matthew Lloyd still shakes his head at.

Lloyd’s Haileybury were all over Watson’s Caulfield Grammar last year and looked likely to pull off a comeback win. Enter Watson.

“Less than two minutes left, we’re up by a goal and someone ‘torped’ it up on the wing,” he said.

“There was a bit of a pack and I was at the back and just launched myself over and someone’s pushed me up and it’s landed in my lap.

It was a good feeling. But there’s been a few.”

Watson booted “about 12” goals in a year 8 game for Rowville once and won a premiership three-peat at East Ringwood from under 12s-14s.

He has four club best-and-fairests and three league best-and-fairests in the EFL.

Watson has got more tricks than the world’s best 500 player.

As for those concerned about his height? They must be small-minded, because recruiters who have watched him every week suspect he will be an instant star.

Originally published as Nick Watson AFL draft profile: The small forward set to be taken top 10