Tara Murray
Ruby Watts wanted to find her love of football again and she did exactly that this season with Macedon this year.
Watts joined the Riddell District Football League club from Gisborne in the off season while having also played Victorian Football League games for Carlton.
The midfielder played a key role in the Cats premiership and on Thursday night, topped off her season with the league best and fairest award.
Watts said it was a little bit unexpected.
“It was really good,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that many votes.
“I thought there were a lot of other girls out there that had a chance, I thought I might be up there but didn’t think I would win it.
“When they were reading out the votes, I thought damn I might be a chance here. I just looked at my friends and thought I can’t believe it.”
Watts said it was a really good season and it was a lot of fun. She said it was the most fun that she’d had playing footy.
“The competition isn’t super high, but that was what made it fun,” she said. “All those girls were super lovely, I had a really great season.
“I enjoyed playing VFL, but you have to really love it to play. I knew a lot of those girls [at Macedon] before I signed up for the team.
“I thought I’ll just play for Macedon and see how it goes and it was a lot of fun.”
Watts said it was an easy decision to join the Cats after Gisborne wasn’t able to get up a women’s side this year.
She was one of a number of Gisborne players that made the move across.
Watts said she thought she had a pretty good season besides a few games where she was disappointed with herself.
The young star was also named the most valuable player by the coaches and was named in the team of the year.
She was one of six Cats players named in the team. Scarlett Lynch, Stephanie Jones, Lilli Collins, Charlotte Noonan and Lulu Slater were also selected.
Outgoing Cats coach Damian Slater was named the coach of the team of the year.
Watts said she was yet to think about her football future, with Gisborne trying to get a side back up and going for next year.
She said at this stage she’s just happy playing local footy rather than giving the higher levels another go.
“I haven’t decided yet, I’ll get through cricket season first,” she said. “Then I’ll decide in the pre-season.
“Just playing for fun really well.”
