Essendon's Jobe Watson prepares to handball during the AFL Round 17 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. The Slattery Media Group
Talk about a baptism of fire. In his first season as Essendon captain, the AFL’s youngest club skipper has been significantly challenged both on and off the field.
At times, I’m sure even by his own admission, Watson would agree his leadership has been found wanting, but what the last six weeks has done for his development might end up being career defining.
The moment of truth came on Saturday night in a game the Bombers desperately needed someone to stand up and make a statement.
Amidst all the criticism of coach Matthew Knights in recent weeks, the lack of on field leadership at Essendon has been strangely overlooked, but it’s been an area that has fallen well short of where it should be.
Essendon weren’t playing as a team but more like a team of individuals fighting for self-preservation.
They needed direction and finally Jobe Watson found a way to provide it.
Leading from the front his 38 disposals, five marks and two goals were instrumental in the Bombers three point win against North Melbourne.
Now don’t get me wrong, I know Watson has played many great games in his time at Windy Hill, but has he ever produced a more important performance at more crucial time?
I don’t think so.
Not only was his coach under siege and club in danger of imploding, but the mental demons he must have been facing from within himself would have been enough to make anyone question their ability to lead a team.
This takes true character and it’s this steely resolve that could help shape the future of Essendon, let alone Watson’s aptitude as a captain.
Some might say it’s a case of too little too late, and the devil’s advocate would undoubtedly question why he didn’t do more to address the problem earlier?
But this is in part my point because without the pressure and intense scrutiny of the past six weeks, he had no way of understanding exactly what is required of him.
Now he does, the challenge is to continue this level of effort on a consistent basis.
It was befitting Watson was awarded the Hird Archer Medal for his best on ground performance as its hard to think of two more inspirational and courageous champions of the game than Glenn Archer and James Hird.
As the son of Essendon champion Tim Watson, whichever way you look at it Jobe Watson is already a great football story, but maybe now in his coming of age as captain, he is learning what it takes to become a champion like his dad?
Without sugar coating it though, Essendon hit rock bottom this season and no one would disagree there is still a long way to go for the club to be the powerhouse it once was.
But will this be a time we look back on as the moment the club reinvigorated itself?
As Matthew Knights pointed out, both Geelong and Hawthorn went through testing times ahead of their premiership years so why cant Essendon do the same?
The spine has the potential to guide this team into the future; it has Pears, Hooker, Watson, Ryder, Hurley and Gumbleton as the cornerstones to success.
The midfield is lacking a genuine superstar, but with youngsters Colyer, Howlett and Melksham improving with every game they play, you just never know how quickly they could develop into elite onballers.
Sometimes it takes a reality check or a period of hardship to realise the sacrifices needed to achieve the ultimate success, and at time when so many have been quick to shoot Essendon down, I’m already predicting the Bombers will quickly fly back up the ladder next season and play a part in September.
Leading the charge will be their skipper.
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