Nick Watson
Australian footballer (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicholas Watson (born 24 February 2005) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
| Nick Watson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Watson in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Nicholas Watson[1] | ||
| Nicknames | The Wizard, Watto, Wiz | ||
| Born | 24 February 2005 | ||
| Original team | Eastern Ranges (NAB League)/East Ringwood (EFNL)/Caulfield Grammar (APS) | ||
| Draft | No. 5, 2023 AFL draft, Hawthorn | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2024, Hawthorn vs. Essendon, at MCG | ||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Hawthorn | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2024– | Hawthorn | 45 (67) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Early life
Watson grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon South[2] and was educated at Rowville Sports Academy and Caulfield Grammar.[3] 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.[4] 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 Hawthorn.[5] Nicknamed "the Wizard" for his ability to do special things in attack, Watson is an exciting prospect.[6] He made his debut against Essendon 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 Collingwood.[7]
In December 2025, after 43 games in the number 34, he was awarded the number 5 guernsey number, which was previously James Worpel's number before he was traded to Geelong.[8]
Statistics
Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[9]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2024 | Hawthorn | 34 | 18 | 25 | 27 | 118 | 77 | 195 | 55 | 45 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 10.8 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 2025 | Hawthorn | 34 | 25 | 36 | 18 | 145 | 127 | 272 | 51 | 51 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 10.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2026 | Hawthorn | 5 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 6 | 9 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 17.0 | 3.0 | 4.5 | TBA |
| Career | 45 | 67 | 49 | 287 | 214 | 501 | 112 | 105 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 11.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0 | ||
