Despite being cut by the Carlton Blues at the end of last season, former first-round draft pick Matthew Watson has insisted he is determined to finally fulfil his potential and grab another AFL chance with both hands. The 23-year old was expected to have a sizeable impact in the league having been selected 18th overall in the 2010 draft, only to struggle to cement himself in the Carlton side amid talk that he didn’t have the focus and determination to be a real success with the Blues. Having been released by the club at the end of the 2015 campaign, Watson is now on the hunt for another AFL team, at a time when a host of free agents are trying to earn a return into the big leagues.
The 23-year old is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Richmond’s Taylor Hunt and Brisbane Lions man Mitch Robinson who both went from being delisted this time last season to making real impacts in the AFL last season with their new clubs. While there are still doubts regarding Watson’s desire to make a success of himself in the league, there are fewer concerns over the talent he clearly possesses. The versatile big man started life off as defender before moving further up field into attack during his time in Carlton, but Watson made only 23 appearances for the Blues during his five years at the club.
The left-footer did show signs last season that he was finally ready to start fulfilling the promise he has clearly always had, producing an impressive round 21 performance against Melbourne in which he recorded six marks and four tackles as well grabbing a goal and another one behind. It was a similar story in 2014, however, where the youngster looked fantastic in Carlton’s thrilling round 23 draw against Essendon, kicking four goals in a stand-out display that showed he definitely has the talent to make an impact in the league.
Aside from the occasional glimpse of what he is capable of, though, Watson’s time with the Blues came to an end when the club’s list chief Stephen Silvagni included him in a list of 11 players that would be leaving Carlton at the end of the 2015 campaign. While there were some Blues fans who felt there was a case for Watson being kept on, the majority weren’t overly bothered about seeing the back of a player who has failed to live-up to the hype that surrounded him following his first round draft selection. For a Carlton team heading into next year with extremely long odds of making it to the Grand Final, though, this will be a busy summer in terms of recruitment as they look to replace those players that have left.
Despite his obvious talents, there has been minimal interest in Watson since the close of the 2015 season, although that could change the closer we get to the start of the new year, as clubs begin to look for possible experienced players they can bring in to add cover and competition for places. As is the case for a lot of free agents, though, Watson knows he could be drinking in the last chance saloon if he does earn a contract with another AFL team over the next few months.
