Nick Watson

{{Infobox AFL biography

| fullname = Nicholas Watson{{cite web |title=Nicholas Watson |url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/players/5592/nick-watson |publisher=Hawthorn Football Club |access-date=14 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914011457/https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/players/5592/nick-watson |archive-date=14 September 2024}}

| image = NickWatson2.jpg

| caption = Watson in 2025

| nickname = The Wizard, Watto, Wiz

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|02|24|df=yes}}

| height = 170 cm {{cite web | title=x.com | website=X (formerly Twitter) | url=https://x.com/HawthornFC/status/1826168169935077464 | access-date=2024-08-21}}

| weight = 68 kg

| originalteam = Eastern Ranges (NAB League)/East Ringwood (EFNL)/Caulfield Grammar (APS)

| draftpick = No. 5, 2023 AFL draft, {{AFL Haw}}

| position = Small forward

| currentclub = {{AFL Haw}}

| guernsey = 34

| debutdate = Round 1, 2024

| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Ess}}

| debutstadium = MCG

| years1 = 2024–

| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}

| games_goals1 = 30 (43)

| statsend = round 12, 2025

| careerhighlights =

AFL Rising Star nomination: 2024

}}

Nicholas Watson (born 24 February 2005) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Watson grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon South{{Cite news |title=Keen midfielder has eye on ball |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/croydon-south-teen-makes-his-mark-with-the-australian-school-boys-football-team/news-story/ab2cf29adc1802ae24c9355e54634ec9 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20161008124236/http://www.heraldsun.com.au:80/leader/outer-east/croydon-south-teen-makes-his-mark-with-the-australian-school-boys-football-team/news-story/ab2cf29adc1802ae24c9355e54634ec9 |archive-date=2016-10-08 |access-date=2025-04-22}} and was educated at Rowville Sports Academy and Caulfield Grammar.{{Cite web |title=Magic touch: 'Wizard' on size, Boomer and talking 'smack' |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1062826/magic-touch-nick-wizard-watson-on-size-boomer-harveys-impact-and-talking-smack/amp |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=www.afl.com.au}} A small forward, Watson in 2023 was the top goalscorer while playing for Caulfield Grammar in the APS competition. He also was the top goalkicker playing for VicMetro in the 2023 National championships.{{cite web | url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1467611/hawks-recruit-proves-doubters-wrong | title=Hawks recruit proves doubters wrong | date=21 November 2023 }} He played his junior football for Montrose and East Ringwood in the Eastern Football League.

AFL career

He was the fifth selection in the 2023 AFL draft by {{AFL Haw}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1467168/hawks-secure-watson | title=Hawks secure Watson with top pick | date=20 November 2023 }} Nicknamed "the Wizard" for his ability to do special things in attack, Watson is an exciting prospect. {{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1085931/hawthorn-hawks-set-to-unleash-four-new-faces-including-nick-watson-for-its-game-against-essendon-on-saturday | title=Off to see 'The Wizard': Hawks lock in new faces for R1 debuts | date=14 March 2024 }} He made his debut against {{AFL Ess}} at the MCG in the opening round of the 2024 AFL season.

He was awarded a 2024 AFL Rising Star nomination in round 19, collecting 12 disposals and kicking 3 goals during a 66 point thrashing over {{AFL Col}}.{{cite news|title=Hawk for life? Wizard’s big contract statement|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fsport%2Fafl%2Fafl-rising-star-nick-watson-nominated-after-three-goals-against-collingwood%2Fnews-story%2F1bfc1fdcdb475e31982f54bca142f7ca&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-1-SCORE|work=Herald Sun|date= |first=|last=}}

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 12, 2025.{{cite web |title=Nick Watson stats |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/N/Nick_Watson.html |website=AFLTables |access-date=13 May 2024}}

| 2024 || {{AFL Haw}} || 34

| 18 || 25 || 27 || 118 || 77 || 195 || 55 || 45 || 1.4 || 1.5 || 6.6 || 4.3 || 10.8 || 3.1 || 2.5

| 2025 || {{AFL Haw}} || 34

| 12 || 18 || 9 || 72 || 57 || 129 || 32 || 26 || 1.5 || 0.8 || 6.0 || 4.8 || 10.8 || 2.7 || 2.2

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 30 !! 43 !! 36 !! 190 !! 134 !! 324 !! 87 !! 71 !! 1.4 !! 1.2 !! 6.3 !! 4.5 !! 10.8 !! 2.9 !! 2.4