Life after football can be challenging. Some players find life tough, while others thrive. Watt is one of the lucky ones.
Watt grew up in the small country town Cavendish, located in western Victoria and juggled between returning to his roots and staying in Melbourne; the place he's called home since arriving at Aegis Park in 1997.
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| Watt during his playing days at North |
Motivated by his two loves; American-born wife Jacky and travelling, Watt ended up in China's most populated city, Shanghai.
"Jack had to come to Australia because my job (AFL) was obviously not transferable overseas, so she sacrificed a lot for me," Watt said.
"I always told her from the start that when I was finished footy, I would support her career and follow her to wherever she would like or need to go because she supported me so much.
"It just happened that Ford had an opening in China and we thought it would be a great experience as well as being great for her career."
While Watt initially thought the move may prevent him from playing football, he was surprised to learn about the game's growing popularity in the country.
"Before we left I was talking to the previous Kangas' Doctor, Con (Mitropoulos) and he told me about some friends he has in Shanghai that were involved in a football club," Watt explained.
"I looked them up in the first week we were in China and within two weeks I was playing a game of AFL in China.
"Jack definitely thought she had gotten away from footy but she enjoys coming to watch the games as it is a social kick around and more about staying fit, having fun and spending time with friends."
And thankfully at the Shanghai Tigers, there are still some perks for the 'WAGS'.
"Sometimes the girls all get together and skip the footy and go for a two-hour massage and meet us afterwards so I really don't think they mind," Watt joked.
The backman says it's taken time to adjust to the more casual nature of the game.
"The standard varies massively from ex AFL/VFL to playing their first ever game of footy and having no idea of the rules," Watt said.
"We had one American guy who in his first game, handballed the ball through the goals because he thought you could score that way. We had been doing a handball game at training because of a lack of space."
While pulling on a Dockers guernsey is a little uncomfortable for the former Roo, there has been a compromise.
"It is a little different but I was lucky enough to get my old number 36 so that makes me feel a little more at home.
"Throughout the year we play against Beijing, Hong Kong and other international touring teams.
"Two or three times a year we tour as the China Reds AFL team to play in games. Last year I went to Kanchanaburi to play in an ANZAC day game against Thailand at Hellfire Pass and the Bridge over the river Kwai.
"This year we went to Vietnam for ANZAC day and played near where they fought the battle of long tan."
While his former teammates are battling it out in Australia, Watt and his new team-mates gather at bar to cheer them on.
"All games end up back at our local pub and coincidentally the best sports bar in Shanghai, The Camel. The Camel shows all AFL games live so we often have to rush back to watch the real stuff.
"I follow the Roos as much as possible and have watched about six games this year.
"I am sure the boys would be frustrated in the fact that they have been a little inconsistent, their best is extremely good and can match it with the best but the down games have been pretty average.
"The last couple of weeks have been great."
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| Watt representing the China Reds AFL team at Kanchanaburi |
