Danni knows how to pick ’em

I don’t like the ‘Footy Show’ and I hardly ever watch it.

It’s stupid, immature and worst of all it has Sam Newman in it.

To me it’s TV trash; I prefer watching ‘Before the Game.’

Although, when fellow Almanacer Susie told me that Mooney was on, I couldn’t resist.

So I thought I’ll watch a few minutes just to see Mooney dressed up in a skinny tie.

It gets to the segment ‘Almost footy legends’ or whatever it’s called, with the first grab, a high launch taken by a Matthew Watson.

“Omg…I know him.”

Yes I do know him, infact I went to primary school with him.

But am I surprised to see him on TV taking a great hanger?

NOPE!

I remember him as a tall blond who was pretty quiet and loved his footy.

Matthew was popular with the guys and a nice guy at heart.

He is a passionate Essendon fan, probably because of the fact that his uncle Steve Alessio played for the Bombers.

At lunchtime Matthew could be found playing some type of sport.

But when he had the footy in his hands, that’s when he shone.

I still remember when a whole group of us girls and guy would play ‘markers up’ at lunchtime with the footy. Matthew had great skills even back then, a great kick I used to be in awe at the control he had on the footy when he kicked it.

I also have good memories of how our primary school basked in the glory of victory, when I was a netballer for the school team.

We would all come back from playing netball, footy, or soccer against other schools we would make one huge circle, just like the players do after a game and belt out the school song which is the current Saints theme song with a few alterations.

Netballers, footballers and soccer players were one and we all supported each other and our future aspirations. One look at the footballers wearing our school footy jumper and it was easy to visualize them out in the AFL and that’s when I figured it out.

I knew it, we all knew it, that one day Matthew would be pulling on the footy boots and running onto the hallowed turf as a professional footy player.

Back in grade six, I mentally came to the conclusion that Mathew would be a big star one day and I’m not alone in thinking that.

Six years later and now Matthew plays for Calder Cannons, a club which has produced like likes of; Betts, Polkinghorn, Swan, Welsh, Chapman, O’Keefe and many other talents. This might be an indicator that soon Matthew Watson could be a footy house hold name.

Coach Martin Allison praised Watson’s work in the tight loss against Oakleigh in which they lost by two points, saying: “Matthew Watson at centre half-back was fantastic.”

He was also listed as one of the Best players for that match.

It doesn’t stop there, when I say this guy is good, I mean he’s good.

Good enough to have pulled on a jumper for Vic Metro during the U18 Championship match against Vic Country at the MCG in which he collected nineteen touches.

What a start for the tall defender, who now stands at 194cm and weighs 99kg.

So there we have it another great future prospect to look forward to.

If any of you saw his big grab on the Footy Show, I would love to know what you think.

I defiantly won’t be surprised if he makes it all the way and who knows, I might be one on the boundary that interviews him after a game, now that would be great.

Lastly, Matt just in case you for some reason come across this piece, I wish you all the best with your career, go for it!

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