When Kevin Sheedy arrived at the Bombers, Tim Watson was on his way to becoming a star.
It was 1981 and Watson had been with the Bombers for close to four years.
His talent was unique and the dynamic he brought to the team was something Sheedy hadn’t experienced before.
"He was just a young exuberant footballer that just hit the scene,” Sheedy said.
“He could run, he had speed, he had power and his ball winning ability was fantastic especially when he started to mature into a really fine player.
“A lot of people would come to see him play.”
Sheedy would go onto to coach Watson through some of his and the team's most successful years.
While there was no doubt Watson had strong football ability, Sheedy enjoyed being able to truly mould the youngster and help him improve his consistency and impact.
“He had to work on his game, but he had that raw ability to break out into open spaces, brush people away, all the sort of things I used to love to think I could do myself – but couldn’t do,” Sheedy said.
“One of the great things about particularly coaching, not only Tim but players – most of the players I coached were better players than myself and he (Tim) was one of them.
“He was just a fantastic player for the Club.”
The pair combined for three premierships.
Watson’s speed, gut running and strength in the contest are seen by Sheedy as paramount in Essendon’s ability to go back-to-back over the Hawks.
“I just think in the end he was a player would have probably unnerved Hawthorn in regard his speed,” Sheedy said.
“We always felt that we could get Hawthorn in a last quarter and smash them, and we did. It was because of Tim’s repeptitive speed in the end.
“It was an asset to the team and the Club.”
It was a calculated plan by Sheedy to get Watson to return from retirement and play in 1993.
Sheedy’s young team needed guidance, and who better than a player who had been there in for the Club’s glory days.
Watson kicked critical goals in Essendon's come from behind preliminary final win against Adelaide and his presence on the ground took the pressure off the likes of Mark Thompson, Mark Harvey and Paul Salmon allowing them to have a greater influence throughout the year.
