TonyK
CibbuanoWatson named Bombers skipper
December 21st 2009 00:12
JOBE Watson has been named Essendon skipper for the 2010 season.
The 24-year-old, who was unveiled as the Bombers' new captain when he led the playing group onto Windy Hill Oval in front of several thousand die-hard fans on Monday morning, succeeds Matthew Lloyd who retired at the end of this season.
He follows in the footsteps of his father Tim who captained the Dons from 1989-1991
Andrew Welsh has been named vice-captain.
Watson had his best season in 2009, averaging almost 25 possessions per game and racking up 10 Brownlow Medal votes.
The hard-nosed midfielder also won the Crichton Medal as Essendon's best-and-fairest for the first time.
Watson said it was a 'tremendous honour' to be appointed captain.
"It's not something you aim to do as a young fella but it's a really humbling experience," Watson said.
"You look at the people who've gone before you, the history of the club and just to be the captain of the club, it's a surreal-type feeling."
"To be voted by my peers and teammates and for them to have the confidence in me that I was ready really helped me."
Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Watson was the right man for the job.
"He is a quality person and is a player that has had to work hard to achieve what he has in the game," Hamilton said.
"He leads by example on and off the field. He has an appetite and desire for success and wants to bring people along with him on the journey. Jobe has an outstanding leadership group behind him and I am confident that, as a group, they will unite the club and provide strong direction."
Hamilton said the final decision on the captain and vice-captain was left to the six-man leadership group.
"It was a rigorous process and one that showed the depth of leadership we have at the club. The leadership group walked out of the meeting united that, together, they will strive to improve the team and club. There was a really strong understanding that leadership is not about one person but is about having a group of leaders," he said.
"We want to empower the playing group to really lead and take control of the big decisions that need to be made so this was an important process for Essendon to go through."
Taken with pick 40 under the father-son rule in the 2002 national draft, Watson has played 94 games for Essendon since making his AFL debut in 2003.
The 24-year-old, who was unveiled as the Bombers' new captain when he led the playing group onto Windy Hill Oval in front of several thousand die-hard fans on Monday morning, succeeds Matthew Lloyd who retired at the end of this season.
He follows in the footsteps of his father Tim who captained the Dons from 1989-1991
Andrew Welsh has been named vice-captain.
Watson had his best season in 2009, averaging almost 25 possessions per game and racking up 10 Brownlow Medal votes.
The hard-nosed midfielder also won the Crichton Medal as Essendon's best-and-fairest for the first time.
Watson said it was a 'tremendous honour' to be appointed captain.
"It's not something you aim to do as a young fella but it's a really humbling experience," Watson said.
"You look at the people who've gone before you, the history of the club and just to be the captain of the club, it's a surreal-type feeling."
"To be voted by my peers and teammates and for them to have the confidence in me that I was ready really helped me."
Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said Watson was the right man for the job.
"He is a quality person and is a player that has had to work hard to achieve what he has in the game," Hamilton said.
"He leads by example on and off the field. He has an appetite and desire for success and wants to bring people along with him on the journey. Jobe has an outstanding leadership group behind him and I am confident that, as a group, they will unite the club and provide strong direction."
Hamilton said the final decision on the captain and vice-captain was left to the six-man leadership group.
"It was a rigorous process and one that showed the depth of leadership we have at the club. The leadership group walked out of the meeting united that, together, they will strive to improve the team and club. There was a really strong understanding that leadership is not about one person but is about having a group of leaders," he said.
"We want to empower the playing group to really lead and take control of the big decisions that need to be made so this was an important process for Essendon to go through."
Taken with pick 40 under the father-son rule in the 2002 national draft, Watson has played 94 games for Essendon since making his AFL debut in 2003.
| 46 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
