Leopold and Werribee ruck Tylar Watts on the advice and club switch that has allowed him to thrive

Tylar Watts considered taking the year off after a tough 2024 season. Months later, he played in round one for the VFL reigning premiers. The talented tall opens up on his big decisions that have paid off.

GFNL South Barwon v Leopold. Leopold's Tylar Watts celebrates one of his 4 goals. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Tylar Watts was burnt out and weighed up taking the 2025 season off.

Watts had spent the 2023 season with Geelong VFL, where he made his debut for the Cats, but opted to narrow his sights on local footy with Geelong West in 2024.

But Watts shouldered the burden of the Giants’ challenging campaign last season.

It was a difficult call, but the 200 centimetre ruck forward knew he needed a change – and all options were on the table.

“I was nearly going to have the year off,” Watts said.

“It was nothing to do with the club, it was just me personally. I tried to put it too much onto myself last year and really drive the standards, and I think me personally, I burnt out. So I felt like I couldn’t give too much, and I didn’t want to be a liability moving forward.

“VFL as well played a toll on me in mind in 2023, so I think I needed that break.”

Tylar Watts (right) was burnt out in 2024. Picture: Mark Wilson

Fortunately for Watts and Leopold, the 25-year-old took the advice of his partner, Remy.

Watts signed with the GFNL reigning premiers in early February and the VFL reigning premier in Werribee soon after.

The big man featured in the first three VFL games of the season for Werribee and since then he has been a formidable force for Leopold in the ruck – feeding the ball to Marcus Thompson, Logan Wagener and Tate Porter – and up forward where he has kicked seven majors in five games.

“Probably full credit to my girlfriend, (she) kind of made me a bit calm and helped me with my decisions,” Watts said.

“I was questioning with my family as well, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

“(Her advice was) just more like, ‘You play footy because you love it, you can’t give it up just yet.

“So she had full faith in me and agreed with the decision I made was going to be the best one for me. And it shows, I love it.”

After that decision to play on, there came the difficult decision of where to he would play.

He also regreted the decision to join local footy recruiting site Trainstop, where 200cm rucks are as rare as hen’s teeth.

Tylar Watts celebrates with his Leopold teammates. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“They’ve done well, Trainstop, but it was a mistake downloading that app, people got me number and it just spread from there,” Watts chuckled

“My phone was buzzing a fair bit this off season.”

Watts had offers from all over Australia – Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania – and spoke to four or five Geelong league clubs and a Bellarine side.

But eventually Watts settled on the club that reminded him of his former club Portland, with plenty of familiar faces from the Hampden league like Harris Jennings, Connor Giddings, there’s a few Warrnambool boys, Mitch Burgess.

“(The interest) was annoying at the start, it was a real tough decision I can’t lie,” Watts said.

“I love West, I still got a big heart for them – the coaches, the players, the people at that club are unreal. But coming to Leopold, I needed that fresh start.”

“It feels like I’m back at home, kind of like Portland, real country club vibe and everyone is so welcoming.”

Months after contemplating giving up footy, Watts channelled the clubs chasing him by shooting off a hopeful text to Werribee, where he played in his first year out of the GWV Rebels in 2019.

“I signed at ‘Pold, I trained once or twice, and I sent a text message out to the old welfare manager at the time,” Watts said.

“I was like, ‘Bugger it, I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m still a bit young, if there’s an opportunity that could pop up’. And I was lucky it did.

Watts earnt a contract with Werribee and despite an interrupted pre-season with injury, he impressed them enough to win a round one spot.

While Watts is back at local level, his passion for footy has returned.

“I’ve really enjoyed being back at Werribee as well, it’s a super club, and coming (to Leopold) is an added bonus. Both clubs have been super for me,” Watts said.

“I’ll pinch hit wherever, I’ll sit forward, I’ll do whatever I’m told. So it’s a great club, I loved the first three games, and I’ll continue to put my foot down here and when the opportunity comes, it comes.”

Originally published as Leopold and Werribee ruck Tylar Watts on the advice and club switch that has allowed him to thrive