The Busy Life of Blake Watson

31/05/2022

Get to know young midfielder Blake Watson and his non-stop lifestyle, his time with Sandringham and plenty more.

First-year VFL midfielder Blake Watson has shown plenty of hard work on the field. However he works equally hard off the footy field.

“I get up and I’m at work, then straight after work I’m going to training and going home to go to bed to get back up for work. I’m at work from 8am-4:30pm, then training’s at 5:30pm. I just drive over and train until 8:30-9pm, then I’m back home to sleep and get up and do it all again."

"On my days off (from training) I’m going straight from work to the gym and then sleep and do it all again.”

"It’s challenging but I don’t really see it as much of a challenge now. It’s only when I say it out loud and I break it down I realise how hectic it can be, but I love it and I wouldn’t change any of it.”

His job as an Engineering Draftsperson is a rather unique and niche one that he didn’t even know about until earlier this year.

“It’s our job to model, draw up and create drawings for construction. The company I work for is Quadrant Mechanical Services (in Keysborough), we’re responsible for all the mechanical services that might go through a hospital for example, that’s the project I’m working on at the moment. So largely it’s the duct work for a hospital and we’re the ones that model that up on the computer and then we put that onto drawings so that it can be manufactured and put in place.”

“It’s very unique and there’s not a lot of people that have heard of it. It’s quite an important job when you think about it but it’s just one of those things you wouldn’t think of.”

When he began at Sandringham though, Watson was a labourer in his home of Whittlesea, taking the trek from there to training in the first few months of preseason.

“We were three days a week so I was down Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings originally in preseason. I was just doing the drive from Whittlesea. Then in the new year I started the job in Keysborough, which I work at Monday to Friday so my drive to training is pretty much from Keysborough to Sandy, which isn’t so bad, 20-25 minutes."

“The Saturday morning was always early, but my girlfriend lives in Dingley, around the corner from Keysborough, and I’ve got an aunty who lives in Lysterfield so occasionally if it was too late and I was too buggered I had places to crash, which I’ve taken full advantage of.”

Having grown up in Whittlesea his whole life, Watson has come to love his home up there.

“It’s quiet but I love the fact that you can walk down the street, you can walk around the park, go down to the footy club and you’re always running into people you know and you just have a conversation with them.

“There’s a lot of people in Whittlesea that are from Whittlesea and their families are from Whittlesea so it’s good to have that connectiveness as a town. It’s just a good little busy town and I love it there.”

Watson’s spent his entire senior footy career with the local club there, the Whittlesea Eagles, but since joining the Zebras late last year he’s enjoyed every minute of it.

“It was a bit daunting at the start, coming from the Northern Footy League while most of the boys are from down this way, but the connectiveness and the willingness to accept everyone for who they are brings everyone together. It feels like you’re running around kicking the footy with 21 of your best mates on the weekend, it’s good fun.”

“I’m actually a Saints fan and obviously we don’t see Saints players heaps during the week, but on the weekend playing with up to 15 St Kilda listed players is pretty surreal. You’ve got leaders at the Club like Jarryn Geary, it's pretty cool.”

His debut in April against Gold Coast at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval was an experience like no other.

“It did feel surreal and a little bit of an out-of-body experience. In saying that, at the end of the day I think it’s because once you walk out there and cross that line you’re just playing footy."

“That’s sort of what it was to me and it wasn’t until standing in the rooms and singing the song after the game that you look around and go ‘I play footy with all these St Kilda listed players who I’ve supported my whole life."

Since his debut Watson has kept his spot in the lineup, saying he’s happy that he’s managed to stay in the side despite all the available St Kilda-listed players.

“We get given a job to do every week and we know what’s meant of us. Everybody plays their role and all you can do is keep trying to take your opportunity going forward.

“I’ve been over the moon to have kept my spot thus far and it is pretty exciting playing with that many Saints players, to be one of the few almost every week.”

His pre-game routine is a simple one like most footy players, with one twist every morning before game day.

“I guess what has changed is locally I go and watch the two’s play a bit early on. Obviously we don’t have that at Sandy. That changed things a little bit but I never really thought too much into it."

“I also always have an iced coffee before my game, which sounds a bit weird but that’s always been my little thing. A couple of hours before the game (so I’m not sick during the game) I make sure I get my iced coffee in and a banana as well and that’s pretty much it.”

Outside of footy he has plenty of hobbies and interests.

“I was a massive tennis player, I spent my whole life growing up and playing tennis. I haven’t been able to (play) as much recently, but I love getting out and playing some tennis.

“Other than that, just keeping up with all the sports. I love the NBA, love watching the footy, just a sports nerd you could say.”

“(On his favourite movie) I’d reckon I’d have to say that new Spider-Man was pretty good, it’s either that one or I love Good Will Hunting.”

“Here’s a weird (snack), I love liquorice.”

“I always pick two favourite AFL players because being a Saints fan and how I also try and play or would love to be like is Jack Steele. I love watching him play footy and his growth as well - he wasn’t a top superstar straight away but how he’s become one is inspiring. But my other favourite’s always been Nat Fyfe."

Written by Joshua Ward - Sandringham Football Club Media