Silver linings and a connection to Boston: Inside Jake Watts’ journey to VFL debut

Shepparton winger Jake Watts’ VFL debut has been a long time coming, and not just because the 21-year-old talent was overlooked often.

Multiple bumps in the road have hindered a smooth lift-off for Watts, but ultimately, it was all worth it for the smooth landing.

The first of a series of setbacks was back in 2022 when Watts faced a bout of glandular fever and its lingering aftermath.

The illness began when Watts was in year 12 but developed into chronic fatigue, with the symptoms persisting into the 2022 season.

Watts played the first three Goulburn Valley League games that season but his chronic fatigue was so impactful that his year was quickly put on ice to overcome the syndrome.

Watts spoke to The News in 2024 about dealing with glandular fever and its later developments, highlighting the support system he had in place to make sure his drive and discipline remained.

That support system includes his parents, Suzanne and Jason, as well as mentor Trent Suratman, who were again vital when Watts sustained a serious hamstring strain in the last game of the 2023 season, further curtailing the then 19-year-old’s ambitions for a state-league opportunity.

But Watts continued to put in the hard yakka, albeit with an added focus on more rest and recovery to prevent another soft tissue setback in the future, and following a summer at Windy Hill, Watts earned a train-on position at Essendon.

However, the Shepparton product was never able to crack into the Bombers line-up, leaving Watts at a crossroads decision to make.

It was at that moment when a connection to Boston led to a fresh opportunity.

The Boston connection wasn’t a layover in the American city’s airport though, it was a mutual link through mate and Collingwood VFL-listed footballer Boston Dowling.

“There probably wasn’t a heap of opportunity, for both contracted and uncontracted boys (at Essendon),” Watts said on the split from red and black.

“It didn’t quite pan out how I planned, or how some of the other boys planned, and as it began looking that way, I started to explore other options.

“I had found some pretty good form at the Bears and I knew Boston Dowling, another boy from the GV area at Collingwood and he was really enjoying it there, so I got in contact and met with them and started to discuss what the pre-season would look like.

“It all happened through that connection through Boston, Collingwood were looking to mix up their list for this year, they probably didn’t have the year they wanted to last year either, and wanted a few new faces in.

“Obviously I wanted to move as well, so that’s how it all transpired.”

While putting pen to paper on a VFL contract was a step in the right direction for Watts, selection was hard to come by, especially in an AFL-aligned side dominating the top flight.

However, Watts took all the learnings and experience in his stride, remaining positive through the demanding schedule of travelling to and from Melbourne, as his GVL form continued to reap the benefits of training with VFL and AFL talent.

It’s that silver linings approach to his football that holds Watts’ mental space in good stead, even when selection is rare.

“You just have to keep putting your best foot forward,” Watts said.

“It’s part of being with an AFL-affiliated team, sometimes you never know when the opportunity’s going to come.

“At the end of the day, the training and the facilities set you up for playing really good VFL footy or really good GVL footy.

“That’s the approach I take, try and set yourself up to play good footy wherever, and your opportunity comes when it comes.”

That chance finally arrived in round 15 of the VFL season, with Watts named to play as a winger against the Magpies’ arch rivals Carlton, in a televised Saturday night fixture at IKON Park no less.

His story to a VFL call-up is ironically typical of the winger’s role he played that night.

A winger can have countless running efforts go unused and unrewarded, but eventually, one will pay off and make an immediate impact.

For over 18 months, Watts remained unrewarded for the running he put in - that being countless hours of travel, dedication to his fitness, recovery and craft, and maintaining a resilient mindset.

And in classic winger fashion, his work rate eventually paid dividends and was finally honoured with an opportunity to pull on the black and white stripes.

“It was huge,” Watts reflected.

“You don’t get much warning of when it’s coming, I only found out that Thursday night I wasn’t coming home to play for the Bears on the weekend.

“It’s a bit different thinking you’re playing Benalla at Deakin to then playing against Carlton at IKON Park on Saturday night (laughs).

“It was huge reward for effort.

“I guess that’s why you stick at it and you grind through that week in, week out grind, for an opportunity like that.”

There has been plenty of support over the journey for Watts, the 21-year-old finding himself scrolling down the contacts list on his phone after making the initial call to his parents.

“I’ve had a heap of support over time, as I mentioned I’ve had a fair few challenges with illness and things like that,” Watts said.

“I’ve got a fair few people in my corner, everyone was really rapt.”

Watts hit the ground running in his debut, collecting 12 disposals and six marks.

A far faster game than country footy, Watts noted, the dashing speedster kept up with the “ping-ponging” style of play as the Magpies fell marginally short of a thrilling win.

Once again, the self-belief Watts holds helped him adapt to the state-league stage quickly.

“You’ve been picked for a reason and that’s what you have to take in,” he said.

“Even though you haven’t played at the level already, you know you can play at that level.

“Getting a game under my belt was even more confirmation of that.

“There’s obviously moments you want to have again and a few nervy moments to start with but as the game went I felt like I eased in and they (the Collingwood coaches) seemed happy with me.”

Watts returned to his beloved Bears last week and starred in the clash against Euroa, recording two goals and 22 disposals as he continues to prove he is worthy to hold a VFL game to his name.