The 20-year-old has no shortage of accolades to her name, but it’s taken a special type of dedication and a fair share of setbacks to get to where she is now. 

Watson is on the verge of making her VFLW debut for Geelong, named as an emergency for Saturday’s match against Carlton. 

Like many, the country girl picked the game up from her older brothers and soon started Auskick, before moving up to play on the big field with Cobden’s under 12 boys team.

She laughs that for one season she tried netball after a little encouragement from her mum, Annie. 

“I dived on the asphalt and said yeah no thanks, and went over and joined the boys,” she said.

Boots on and mouthguard in, Watson was one to watch. 

Returning to Simpson’s under 14.5 team the following year, Watson continued to follow her passion before reaching the age limit for females playing in the local boys league.

The next season she represented the Hampden team in Warrnmabool’s 2013 V/Line Cup – showing potential as a forward. 

It was then that, together with parents Annie and Stephen, she decided she was going to give the game a serious go and they began trips across the state, following opportunities and start-up female competitions.

And then came the chance – Modewarre had started a women’s team.

Watson signed up and was soon pulling on the boots each weekend for the Youth Girls’ Division. 

She represented Vic Country interstate, vice-captaining her second year and impressing national representatives. 

Watson spent the following two years on the sidelines as an ankle injury, taking on leadership roles and navigating rehab in the meantime. 

In 2017, returning from injury, Watson moved to the AFL Goldfields league to play for the North Geelong Magpies.

They had a stellar year – winning the grand final, Watson kicking three goals. 

As a result, she won leading goal-kicker for both her club and the league with 32 goals.

And now, she’s been named as an emergency in Saturday’s VFLW match for the Geelong Cats.

“It’s obviously a massive privilege to be doing what I’m doing – It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Watson said.

“I think it’s really good that we now have role models for young girls to look up to – I never had that growing up. 

“I never knew if I would actually get that chance to play – even though I told everyone I would, regardless of there being no female league yet.”

It’s an achievement almost 20 years in the making and one Watson and the many coaches, players and friends she’s met along the way, couldn’t be happier about.

“It’s nice to know that the years of hard work and training are finally coming together – that it’s a step in the right direction.”

From small-town country beginnings to the big stage of a history-making women’s league, Watson is helping to pave the way for generations of youngsters to follow their football dreams. 

Watch this space.