Australian Football

Albert Watts was a sure-footed, reliable defender with a natural penchant for leadership. He commenced his league career at Midland Junction, where he played a total of 22 senior games between 1914 and 1917. Midland Junction having disbanded, he then moved to Perth, where he added a further 144 league appearances between 1919 and 1929, serving as captain in his final four seasons. Between 1927 and 1929 he also coached the side. 

The 1920s was an extremely bleak decade for the Redlegs, however, and only once, in 1920, did they even contest the finals. The fact that Watts was scarcely to blame for this under-achievement was perversely emphasised in 1926 and 1927 when he skippered the Western Australian state team to six wins from eight matches, including two victories in three games against the VFL.

Author - John Devaney