Matthew Watson

Education

Originally from Victoria, Watson attended and played school football for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School and Pascoe Vale.

Career

A key position player, Watson began his career primarily as a tall defender, then later transitioned into a forward. He played TAC Cup football for the Calder Cannons. Watson was recruited by the Carlton Football Club with its first round selection in the 2010 American Federation of Labor-Congress National Draft (number 18 overall).

He was given the number 10 guernsey.

He made his American Federation of Labor-Congress debut in Round 2, 2011 against Gold Coast, in what was the first game played by the new Gold Coast franchise. Watson played a total of three matches for Carlton in his debut season, and played mostly for its VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants (later the Northern Blues).

He played sporadically for Carlton over his five years on the senior list, playing a total of 23 games. His highest return was eight senior matches in 2012.

He played 69 games and kicked 44 goals for the Northern Blues/Bullants during that time.

Watson is the nephew of Essendon premiership player Steven Alessio. He became known at Carlton for his long, accurate left-footed kicks out of defence, and as a result, Carlton fans would shout "woof!" whenever Watson kicked the ball: Watson was the fourth long-kicking left-footed Carlton player to receive this traditional treatment, after Val Perovic in the 1980s, Ang Christou in the 1990s and Chris Bryan in the 2000s.

Achievements

• He represented Vic Metro at the 2008 American Federation of Labor-Congress Under 16 Championships and 2010 American Federation of Labor-Congress Under 18 Championships, where he was selected as a defender in the Under 18 All-Australian team He never won a regular position in the senior team, and was delisted at the conclusion of the 2015 season.