Editing Tim Watson (section)

==Playing career==
===Essendon===
Watson made his VFL debut in [[1977 VFL season|1977]] for Essendon at the age of fifteen years and 305 days, the fourth-youngest player in the history of the League.<ref>{{cite book|title=AFL 2005|editor=Lovett, Michael|publisher=AFL Publishing|location=Melbourne, Victoria|year=2005|page=542|isbn=0-9580300-6-5}}</ref>

Watson won the Essendon best-and-fairest award four times ([[1980 VFL season|1980]], [[1985 VFL season|1985]], [[1988 VFL season|1988]] and [[1989 VFL season|1989]]). In 1989, he won the [[AFL Players Association]] MVP award, now known as the [[Leigh Matthews Trophy]].<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24315730-19742,00.html Previous MVP winners] (8 September 2008)</ref>

Watson played the ruck-rover in Essendon's [[1984 VFL grand final|1984]] and [[1985 VFL grand final|1985]] grand final victories.  He was made captain in [[1989 VFL season|1989]] and held that position until [[1991 AFL season|1991]], before retiring from the game due to the injury problems that had plagued the later part of his career.<ref>{{Ref AFL Encyc|4th|677}}</ref> In the [[1992 AFL Draft|1992 pre-season draft]], Watson was recruited by the [[West Coast Eagles]] even though he had signalled his intention to retire. He never played a game for the club, instead continuing a commentary role with the [[Seven Network]] for 1992, which included working as a boundary rider in [[1992 AFL Grand Final|that year's grand final]], which the Eagles won.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/tim-watson|title=Tim Watson|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Tim+Watson/11053|title=TIM WATSON|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> 

====Comeback====
Early in the [[1993 AFL season|1993 season]], Essendon senior coach [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]] lured Watson out of retirement.  Although Watson was not as fit as he had once been, and was never able to recapture his top form, he played a vital role in the forward line, kicking some important goals throughout the year.  His experience in what was a very young team was instrumental in helping Essendon win an [[1993 AFL Grand Final|unexpected premiership]] that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/tim-watson|title=Tim Watson|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Tim+Watson/11053|title=TIM WATSON|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> 

After the [[1994 AFL season|1994 season]], Watson retired for good as a player, having played 307 games and kicked 335 goals for Essendon. He was also a member of Essendon's [[1984 VFL Grand Final|1984]], [[1985 VFL Grand Final|1985]] and [[1993 AFL Grand Final|1993]] premiership teams. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/tim-watson|title=Tim Watson|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Tim+Watson/11053|title=TIM WATSON|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref> 

Since his retirement, Watson was named the sixth-greatest player to ever play for Essendon in the "[[Essendon Football Club#Champions of Essendon|Champions of Essendon]]" list, and he was named ruck-rover in their "[[Essendon Football Club#Team of the Century|Team of the Century]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/tim-watson|title=Tim Watson|access-date=17 September 2023}}</ref>