Australian Football

A versatile utility during his time with Richmond, Colin Waterson became noted as a key position specialist after crossing to East Fremantle. He played 13 VFL games and kicked nine goals for Richmond in 1978 and 1980-1, plus 78 reserves appearances and a reserves best and fairest win. He was just beginning to establish himself as a senior player when a transfer in his employment led to his embarking on a new phase of his career with East Fremantle.

The Sharks had plenty of reasons to congratulate themselves on their new acquisition, who went on to play 122 WAFL games and boot 278 goals between 1982 and 1989. A premiership player in 1985, he also counted club list-topping tallies of 48 goals in 1983 and 64 goals in 1986 among his achievements. His four interstate appearances for Western Australia included the winning 1986 state of origin encounter with Victoria. Late in his career, when he was no longer a first choice senior player, Waterson demonstrated impressive club loyalty by continuing to turn out for the reserves, whom he helped to a flag in his last ever game in a Sharks jumper in 1989.

Author - John Devaney