Mark Watson (Australian footballer)

Mark Watson
Mark Watson
Personal information
Date of birth	4 April 1960 (age 64)
Original team(s)	Denmark
Position(s)	Midfielder
Playing career
Years	Club
1980–1984	Claremont
1985–1990	Perth
Total
Coaching career
Years	Club
1993–1994	South Fremantle
Career highlights
	Sandover Medal: 1987; Butcher Medal (Perth B&F): 1987, 1988, 1989; WAFL Premiership: 1981;

Mark Douglas Anton Watson (born 4 April 1960) is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. He played for Claremont and Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), winning the 1987 Sandover Medal as the league's best player. He also coached South Fremantle for two seasons.

Personal life

Watson grew up on the family dairy farm in

Fremantle 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 to Perth to train with Claremont.^[1] After five senior games in his debut WAFL season in 1980, he had a breakthrough year and played in the club's 1981 premiership victory over South Fremantle.^[2]

Watson moved to Perth for the

1990 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 the 1993 WAFL season. The team placed fifth, losing to Subiaco in the elimination final, but won only six games the following season to place sixth. He was replaced by club stalwart John Todd.^[4] Watson later coached the Rockingham Rams amateur side for four seasons.^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Newbold, Cameron (14 May 2020). "Great Southern guns – blasts from the past: Sandover medallist Mark Watson's golden premiership run started in Denmark". Albany Advertiser. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Player Stats: WATSON, Mark Douglas Anton". WAFL Footy Facts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ "Mark Watson". West Australian Football League. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ "South Fremantle Honour Board". WAFL Footy Facts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.