There has been hype around Francis Watson since his impressive 2017 preseason form, and he finally made it to the seniors in round 18 last year before being dropped to the WAFL two weeks later. He rarely ventures much beyond the 20-disposal mark, and averages only 16. If Watson is eventually going to make it in the big time, this will probably be the year he does it. He is unlikely to turn into a premium fantasy asset like Brad Sheppard, and is more likely to follow the Lewis Jetta path of quality over quantity. This makes him a flier pick at best.
Mystery in Watson's future
There has been hype around Francis Watson since his impressive 2017 preseason form, and he finally made it to the seniors in round 18 last year before being dropped to the WAFL two weeks later. He rarely ventures much beyond the 20-disposal mark, and averages only 16. If Watson is eventually going to make it in the big time, this will probably be the year he does it. He is unlikely to turn into a premium fantasy asset like Brad Sheppard, and is more likely to follow the Lewis Jetta path of quality over quantity. This makes him a flier pick at best.
Francis Watson made his way into a lot of AFL Fantasy sides this week after an impressive debut display against Melbourne in Alice Springs. He is nominally in the team as a short-term replacement for the injured Shannon Hurn, giving him a window of maybe only one or two more weeks to impress off half back, but if he keeps up his form from game one he should be able to wedge out the likes of Tom Cole and Jackson Nelson, assuming he is given a fair go by the coaching staff. A lot of salary cap sides are set by this stage, but he is a welcome late rookie trade-in option.
Francis a champagne footballer
Francis Watson managed one preseason game with the senior squad last year, then spent the rest of it at WAFL level at rates of 17 disposals, five marks and 73 fantasy points. One or two of the incumbent HBFs for West Coast are gettable if Watson can string together a good run in the reserves in 2019, and a decent JLT opener was an excellent start. If he's picked for round 1, worth a flier.
Francis Watson will try to impress the Eagles selection committee in preseason for the second year running as he strives to break into the senior team. He missed out on the flag run, and will have more hunger than some of his half back peers. He dominated in the corresponding fixture last preseason, though it didn't help him get much in the way of buzz for selection in the ones. Maybe second time lucky?
Job ahead for Watson
The first month of Francis Watson's AFL-listed career was red hot, as he averaged 27 touches and 107 fantasy points off a HBF in the WAFL. An ankle ligament injury then slowed him down so much that when he returned months later, he did not hit 20 disposals again in nine remaining matches. There is a senior HBF spot available at the start of 2018, as Liam Duggan was less than impressive there in the tail end of last season and Sharrod Wellingham is now retired. A solid preseason for Watson and some JLT action should see him jockeying for that position in the West Coast team... and yours, with a late flier.
