brettig
New Yorker
Watson's nephew dies after collision
12:49:10 PM Sun 7 April, 2002
AAP
A talented teenage footballer and nephew of Essendon legend Tim Watson has died after an on-field clash in an under-19s match in Adelaide.
Jake Watson, 17, who died in hospital last night with his parents at his side, was an under 18 South Australian representative.
He was playing for West Adelaide in an under-19s fixture against Woodville-West Torrens at Richmond Oval yesterday afternoon when he collided with an opposition player.
Witnesses said both players went to ground after the third-quarter incident but Watson did not get up.
The game was stopped but the youngster failed to respond to treatment by paramedics and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition.
A hospital spokesman confirmed he died last night after being on life support.
West Adelaide teammate James Fraser said he was 10 metres away when Watson was injured.
"It was so quick. He was standing one minute and down the next," said Fraser. "We all rushed over but there was nothing we could do."
Players from both West Adelaide and Wooville-West Torrens were given counselling yesterday and today and were expected to get further help during the week, probably at training.
Consideration was also given to cancelling today's South Australian National Football League (SANFL) game between the two clubs at Woodville Oval although officials eventually decided it would go ahead as planned.
West Adelaide Football Club president Dion McCaffrie said when a decision had to be made on the game, Jake was still clinging to life in hospital.
"This is a dreadfully unfortunate incident," he said. "The ramifications of what has happened will be felt throughout the whole club."
News of Jake Watson's death was announced to fans arriving for the league game today who were then asked to observe a minute's silence.
Jake Watson played his first junior football with Adelaide club Sturt before transferring to West Adelaide at the beginning of last season.
His father played 31 VFL games before moving to Adelaide to join West Adelaide in 1981.
There he became a defensive star and played in the 1983 SANFL premiership side which defeated Sturt by 34 points in the grand final.
However, Tim Watson was always the football star of the family playing a 307 games for the Bombers in two stints from 1977 to 91 and then from 1993 to 94.
He won the club's best and fairest award four times but never took a Brownlow Medal, his best finish being equal third in 1989.
A police spokesman said it was unclear if police would become involved in any investigation of Jake Watson's death.
However a post mortem examination was expected to be conducted.
SANFL officials could not be contacted for comment on any investigation they might conduct.
---------------------
this sort of stuff really gets to me, a life lost while playing a game is hard to handle...sounds like he couldve gone nearly as far as his uncle if given the chance...
12:49:10 PM Sun 7 April, 2002
AAP
A talented teenage footballer and nephew of Essendon legend Tim Watson has died after an on-field clash in an under-19s match in Adelaide.
Jake Watson, 17, who died in hospital last night with his parents at his side, was an under 18 South Australian representative.
He was playing for West Adelaide in an under-19s fixture against Woodville-West Torrens at Richmond Oval yesterday afternoon when he collided with an opposition player.
Witnesses said both players went to ground after the third-quarter incident but Watson did not get up.
The game was stopped but the youngster failed to respond to treatment by paramedics and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition.
A hospital spokesman confirmed he died last night after being on life support.
West Adelaide teammate James Fraser said he was 10 metres away when Watson was injured.
"It was so quick. He was standing one minute and down the next," said Fraser. "We all rushed over but there was nothing we could do."
Players from both West Adelaide and Wooville-West Torrens were given counselling yesterday and today and were expected to get further help during the week, probably at training.
Consideration was also given to cancelling today's South Australian National Football League (SANFL) game between the two clubs at Woodville Oval although officials eventually decided it would go ahead as planned.
West Adelaide Football Club president Dion McCaffrie said when a decision had to be made on the game, Jake was still clinging to life in hospital.
"This is a dreadfully unfortunate incident," he said. "The ramifications of what has happened will be felt throughout the whole club."
News of Jake Watson's death was announced to fans arriving for the league game today who were then asked to observe a minute's silence.
Jake Watson played his first junior football with Adelaide club Sturt before transferring to West Adelaide at the beginning of last season.
His father played 31 VFL games before moving to Adelaide to join West Adelaide in 1981.
There he became a defensive star and played in the 1983 SANFL premiership side which defeated Sturt by 34 points in the grand final.
However, Tim Watson was always the football star of the family playing a 307 games for the Bombers in two stints from 1977 to 91 and then from 1993 to 94.
He won the club's best and fairest award four times but never took a Brownlow Medal, his best finish being equal third in 1989.
A police spokesman said it was unclear if police would become involved in any investigation of Jake Watson's death.
However a post mortem examination was expected to be conducted.
SANFL officials could not be contacted for comment on any investigation they might conduct.
---------------------
this sort of stuff really gets to me, a life lost while playing a game is hard to handle...sounds like he couldve gone nearly as far as his uncle if given the chance...
