| Mark Watson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (age 65) | ||
| Original team | Denmark | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1980–1984 | Claremont | 73 (66) | |
| 1985–1990 | Perth | 119 (127) | |
| Total | 192 (193) | ||
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1993–1994 | South Fremantle | 43 (17-26-0) | |
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
Mark Douglas Anton Watson (born 4 April 1960) is a retiredAustralian rules football player and coach. He played forClaremont andPerth in theWest Australian Football League (WAFL), winning the 1987Sandover Medal as the league's best player. He also coachedSouth Fremantle for two seasons.
Watson grew up on the family dairy farm inDenmark, Western Australia, one of three brothers. He has four children with his wife Gail and worked as a crane operator atFremantle Ports after leaving football.[1]
Watson won four consecutive premierships from 1978 to 1981 as a centreman with Denmark in the Southern Districts Football League. He moved toPerth to train with Claremont.[1] After five senior games in his debut WAFL seasonin 1980, he had a breakthrough year and played in the club's 1981 premiership victory over South Fremantle.[2]
Watson moved to Perth for the1985 WAFL season. He won three consecutive Butcher Medals from 1987 to 1989 as the club's best and fairest player.[3] He also won the 1987Sandover Medal as the league's best and fairest player; his tally of 30 votes was far behind the 46 votes ofDerek Kickett, but Kickett was ineligible due to suspension.[1] Watson finished his career at the end of the1990 WAFL season with a total of 192 games and 193 goals.[2] He also played three state games for WA.[1]
Watson was appointed coach of South Fremantle for the1993 WAFL season. The team placed fifth, losing to Subiaco in the elimination final, but won only six gamesthe following season to place sixth. He was replaced by club stalwartJohn Todd.[4] Watson later coached the Rockingham Rams amateur side for four seasons.[1]
