Watt will retire at the end of this season, realising his passion for the game has waned and understanding that younger teammates Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima have done enough to now hold senior spots in defence.
However, the 28-year-old will play his third game of the year against St Kilda on Sunday – earning a recall through his VFL form rather than the sentiment of a farewell match.
A string of solid performances continued with 26 possessions in North Ballarat’s win over Port Melbourne last week, but Watt admits his output was far from where it needed to be earlier this year.
Before 2009, he had missed just 11 games in six years and said this season’s struggles had taken some adjusting to.
“The young boys are playing really well. Scotty Thompson’s been brilliant this year and he’s probably pushed me out of the side, which is great for the club’s future,” he said.
“That didn’t worry me. I knew I had to play good footy to get back into the side. I didn’t [at first] and it made it hard to get back in. I finally did and then didn’t play great and went back out.
“As much as I’d love to have been playing seniors, I’ve still enjoyed the year at Ballarat. If I wasn’t still enjoying my footy, I wouldn’t play out the year just for the sake of it.”
Watt spoke with caretaker coach Darren Crocker around five weeks ago, but wanted to ensure the club shared his outlook in case it had other plans for him.
“It’s nice to tell them and let them know so that they can make a decision on the club as well, not only me,” he said.
“It’s not all about you, I suppose. It’s all about helping the club out as well.”
From Cavendish, a small town around 300km west of Melbourne, Watt was recruited as a 16-year-old at No.14 in the 1997 national draft.
Making his debut against Essendon in round 14, 1998, he played 26 games in five years under dual premiership coach Denis Pagan before Dean Laidley’s arrival.
Thrust into the full-back position, even though his agility was more suited to smaller opponents, Watt said the sink-or-swim situation encouraged his longevity.
“A lot of people don’t want to play in the backline,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s got me 150 games.
“If I was in the side as a forward, I wouldn’t have played 20 or 30 games. For a lot of years there we didn’t really have a key back and I was it and sort of thrown in the deep end.
“Getting to play on the best really tests you out week to week. It was a tough time but it was a good time as well.
“Dean was absolutely super,” Watt added. “I was pretty much on my last legs when he got to the footy club and he gave me a chance and put a lot of faith into me.”
He said life membership was easily his proudest achievement at North, but that preparing for a preliminary final in 2007 was also a special occasion.
Watt is getting married at the end of the year and will spend 2010 and 2011 completing his P.E. studies.
