Bomber brothers: Archie and Ollie Watt last year when they played an Under 18 game together for Kyabram. Ollie is playing with the eldest of the Watt brothers, Dominic, at Tongala this year, but Kyabram will see Archie in under age ranks at some stage this season, his APS and Coates Talent League commitments permitting.
Archie Watt’s head turning six-goal final for Kyabram at GV Creamery Oval in September last year turned plenty of heads, including the selectors of the Oakleigh Chargers’ Coates Talent League squad.
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Watt has been included as a bottom age player in the 43-man Chargers’ squad and is expected to debut early in the season, despite missing selection in the round one team at the weekend.
The 17-year-old, one of three footballing brothers, came under the notice of the Chargers when he was selected as one of only three Year 10 players to play with Xavier College’s first XVIII team in the Associated Public Schools competition.
He played with Kyabram’s Under 16 team while at home on holidays, playing seven games in his age group and stepping up to play one match alongside soon to turn 19-year-old brother Ollie in the Under 18 competition.
Watts was Kyabram’s best player in both its Under 16 finals last season, kicking eight goals and dominating at different points through the mid-field.
His father, Paul, explained the Chargers squad was extended because of the amount of APS players in its ranks.
APS teams have priority on their students come the season, which doesn’t start until the last week of April.
That gives Watt four weeks to impress selectors on the training track and earn a spot in the Coates Talent League team.
“Four games will be played and then the APS season kicks in,” Paul Watt said.
Xavier College is this year being coached by Jobe Watson, who is a former Xavier College student and famously handed back his 2012 Brownlow Medal after being captain of Essendon during the supplements scandal.
Collingwood champion, and former Goulburn Valley boy, Steele Sidebottom is the assistant coach of the team.
As a 16-year-old Watt played every game with Xavier College last season, in the same team as best and fairest winner, and another Kyabram product, Charlie Barnett.
Having just turned 17, Watt is the youngest of the three brothers, two who will play with Tongala this year.
Ollie has chosen to play alongside 24-year-old brother, Dominic, at Tongala in the Murray league and has impressed in the pre-season.
He is expected to push for senior selection at Tongala, where his elder brother is a mid-field star.
Dominic Watt has been at Tongala since 2019, playing in a reserve grade premiership in his first year, immediately after being a member of Kyabram’s winning 2018reserve grade premiership.
Dominic had a knee reconstruction when he was 19, but has transformed himself this season — dropping 13 kilograms — and is expected to have a major impact for the Blues.
Jumper presentation: Kyabram Football Netball Club official John Guinan was a special guest of the Watt family at the Oakleigh Chargers jumper presentation. Watt is a bottom age player with the Chargers and will also play with Xavier College in the Associated Public Schools competition.
The other member of the family, Georgia, is playing netball at Tongala. She has just come off a knee reconstruction.
Archie Watt has been completing much of his off-season training while living in Kyabram, a regular at the Fenaughty Street gym, which is the choice of several Kyabram stars.
His progress has been closely watched by Xavier College fitness boss, Nathan Heaney, the ex-Adelaide Crows fitness coach.
"He is on a controlled program. If he plays one game at the weekend he can’t play any more,“ Paul Watt said.
If he plays in APS competition on Saturday he will be unable to play with the Chargers on Sunday.
At the moment he is training one day a week with Xavier and two nights with Chargers.
He has just started his third year of schooling at Xavier, having convinced his presents that boarding school was his best option.
Neither Ollie and Dom went to Xavier.
“Archie has driven his own future, he had the application with Xavier sitting on the table one night and told us he wanted to go to boarding school,” Paul Watt said of the information delivered to him and wife of 28 years Natalie.
“The main reason was sport. He did his homework and felt that Xavier could help him along the way,” Paul explained.
Dominic and Archie have similar physical attributes, strongly built with red hair.
Archie has grown significantly in the off-season, but not yet at the height of Ollie who generally plays as a ruckman and is tall with a slight build.
Archie has been training since last October and will be part of a Xavier College training camp at Echuca in mid-April.
He will be a key player with Xavier in the 11-round APS season.
And it is likely he will be seen at some stage in red and black with his home town Kyabram team.
“The plan would be if he is not playing Chargers or APS he will come home and play,” Paul said.
He played with Kyabram’s Under 18 team in a practice match against White Hills at Bendigo two weeks ago.
