THE Essendon Football Club has just announced that they have re-signed team captain Jobe Watson to a new four-year deal that will see remain with the club through to the end of the 2017 season.
At 28 years of age, Watson has acknowledged that this new deal should see him finish his career as a one club player.
“To commit to the club on a four year deal, it will probably finish off my time at the footy club,” said Watson via comments released by the club.
“Loyalty is something that is important to me. There are always times in your career where you do have options, but one thing that I’m very proud of is that the Watson name and its association with the Essendon Football Club, has now been so for more than a quarter of a century.“
“I see the football club as an extension of my family. It gives a lot of joy to my family and for the supporters, and that’s what I love about the club, the amount of happiness it brings to the people around me.”
Watson has now played 163 games for the Bombers since they drafted him as a Father/Son selection with the 40th pick of the 2002 National Draft, and has collected plenty of awards for his play with his biggest personal achievement coming with last year’s Brownlow Medal.
“The player he’s become, the leader he’s become and the person he is, is a credit to himself and to the football club and we are very proud to have him re-sign for four years,” said Essendon coach James Hird.
“The reason why Jobe is such a good leader is that he cares genuinely about people. Jobe brings other people with him, he has the respect of his teammates, he is a competitor and people want to compete for him, and he is very self driven and that all adds up to a very good leader.”
Essendon is currently sitting at third spot on the AFL ladder and will face the reigning premiers Sydney at the SCG this Saturday afternoon.