NAB League Boys: Eastern Ranges too strong for Dandenong Stingrays

Aged 16 and standing 168cm, Nick Watson is putting his pace to impressive use in the NAB League Boys competition.

Nick Watson (left) and Eastern Ranges teammates celebrate a goal against the Stingrays.

Eastern Ranges coach Travis Cloke called him a “little weapon’’ and Nick Watson certainly did some damage in Sunday’s NAB League Boys match against the Dandenong Stingrays at Shepley Oval.

The 168cm forward seized the eye with his speed, most memorably when he slipped around an opponent near the boundary and ran in for an easy goal in the third quarter.

The 16-year-old, playing in the Ranges team with brother Bradley, finished with 12 disposals.

No spectators were allowed to attend the game as the competition resumed from a Covid interruption, but recruiters were on hand for it and one called Watson “tiny but super-talented’’.

The East Ringwood product was selected for the Vic Metro Under 17 team this year.

“We’ve got a few who are knee-high to a grasshopper … Nicky Watson, Jake Arundell, Kai Windsor,’’ Cloke said with a laugh.

“They’re fantastic footballers. And what they do well is apply pressure in the forward half and they know where the goals are.

“At that height you’ve got to know what you’re good at, you’ve got to know your strengths, and they play to them really well.

Nick Watson of the Eastern Ranges.

“Having said that, we’re working on other sides of their games to make them a better package, because at that height you’re up against the eight ball. Obviously Caleb Daniel has defied the odds and we use that as a reference point.’’

Watson, who attends Rowville Secondary College, was playing his third match for the Ranges.

He previously came to attention when he made the School Sport Victoria Under 12 and Under 15 teams.

The Ranges defeated the Stingrays 13.13 (91) to 9.10 (64), with Cloke and Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox both noting how the visitors scored goals from Dandy turnovers.

The Stingrays had led 3.4 to 1.4 after Miller Bergman made a set-shot, but from there the Ranges kicked seven of the next eight goals to shoot ahead 8.8 to 4.4 at half time.

Max Hall and Watson put them further in front early in the third quarter.

The Rays rallied but a dribbler from the pacy and crafty Arundell ensured the points would be heading east.

Arundell kicked three goals and had 16 possessions.

Cloke tipped praise on smooth-moving left-footer Corey Preston, key defenders Tyreece Leiu and Jackson Weatherill, forward Tyler Charlton (three goals), and midfielders Jake Soligo and Max Hall.

In Hall’s case, Cloke said he had emerged as a draft prospect.

“He’s had probably the most consistent month of footy I’ve seen anyone play at NAB,’’ he declared.

“Kicking goals, having 30s (possessions), offensive/defensive, tackles … for me he’s a smoky for the draft this year, just with his growth and development. He’s got his on field/off-field balance going really well and as a 19-year-old I think he’s realised what he needs to do … there has been a bit of noise around him and I really hope clubs draft kids who aren’t in the mould of AFL players. This kid, he’s not short, but he’s stocky, and gee he’s a fantastic team man. I think he’d make any team better by being in it … inside ball, he works three to six extremely well, inside hands exceptional, really nice understanding of tempo and control … he’s a hard worker, he’s a ripper.’’

He added: “I’ll be moving heaven and earth to push that kid, that’s for sure.’’

It was the Ranges’ fourth victory in a stop-start season.

Eastern Ranges 1.4, 8.7, 12.9, 13.13 (91)

Dandenong Stingrays 2.4, 4.4, 6.10, 9.10 (64)

Eastern goals: T. Charlton 3, J. Arundell 3, K. Windsor 2, S. Ali 2, M. Hall, N. Watson, J. Soligo. Best: J. Weatherill, T. Leiu, J. Soligo, J. Clarke, M. Hall, T. Charlton

Dandenong goals: J. Culley 2, M. Bergman 2, B. Taylor 2, L. Robinson, B. Milford, W. Bravo.

Best: W. Bravo, T. Campbell-Farrell, M. Bergman, M. Andrew, F. Jakstas, B. Taylor