LEGACY: Brian Watchman watched grandsons Sean Davis and Jess Watchman play for the Blackwood senior colts in the grand final, more than 50 years after he played for the team

EIGHTY-three-year-old Brian Watchman jumped a metre-high fence to celebrate a grand final victory with two of his grandsons.

Sean Davis and Jess Watchman - who play for the Blackwood Senior Colts - and their team were just too good for Lobethal, beating them 17.13 (115) to 8.10 (58) in the grand final earlier this month (Saturday, September 17).

And no one was more excited than Watchman senior, who leapt the oval fence in triumph following their win. “I was so very nervous before the grand final,” he said.

Watchman, who played in the Woods premiership sides of 1953, 1954 and 1955 and is a life member, is honoured that the association between his family and the Woods has continued through the generations.

“I followed in the footsteps of my father (WS Watchman) who played at Blackwood after the war and before I was born,” Watchman said. “I also had two sons who both played for Blackwood. I just really enjoyed the camaraderie of the club.”

The Watchman trophy, presented annually for service to the club, is named after Watchman Sr’s father.

The retired farmer and CFS captain now braves extreme weather conditions to watch his grandsons Sean Davis, 18, and Jess Watchman, 15, continue the family tradition, as well as Lachlan Watchman, 14, who plays for the junior colts side.

” I am extremely proud of all three of them,” Watchman said.

Jess Watchman said his “pa” was his biggest inspiration. “No matter how far away, how cold or how sick he is, every opportunity he has, he’s out there watching,” he said. “I’m always looking over to him waiting for that thumbs up.”

Lachlan Watchman said his own football career at the Woods was destiny.

“With my pa, dad and uncle all playing at Blackwood, I was destined to play for the Woods,” he said.

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Blackwood's under 9 side at the recent end of season carnival

Congratulations to BFC under 13 players Liam McCarthy, Levi Grigg and Ryan Williams on their selection into the SAPSASA representative side contesting the State Junior Football Carnival played this weekend.

JUNIOR TRAINING TIMES

Under 17.5
Coach :