A gold player's medallion presented to Joseph Charles Watson for the 1913 Championship of Australia
A gold fob (maximum dimensions 39 × 30 mm, including suspension ring, but not including the two attached bails; 22.9 gm), obverse with the club's monogram on a shield at the centre, surrounded by banners bearing the text 'Champions of Australia, 1913'; reverse engraved with the award details 'Presented by the Citizens of Port Adelaide to J.C. Watson, Port Adelaide Football Club', and stamped 'Suhard & Co' and '15C'.
In excellent condition.
Port Adelaide had already won the SAFL Premiership for 1913 (losing only two matches over the season), and played VFL premiers Fitzroy at Adelaide Oval on 8 October 1913 for the Championship of Australia. The result was a one-sided victory by Port Adelaide, 13.16 (94) to 4.7 (31), with Watson scoring a goal. 'The 1914 season is widely regarded as the club's best season with Port Adelaide achieving the distinction of going through the entire year without losing a single match. It won its fourteen SAFL games by an average margin of 49 points. The 1914 SAFL Grand Final is notable as Port Adelaide held North Adelaide to a single goal for the match 13.15 (93) to 1.8 (14), a feat that would be repeated in 1989. The club would then meet VFL premiers Carlton on Adelaide Oval, defeating the Victorian club 9.16 (70) to 5.6 (36) to claim a record fourth Championship of Australia title. At the end of 1914 season the SAFL put together a combined team from the six other SAFL clubs to play Port Adelaide to no avail with the now dubbed "Invincibles" winning 14.14 (98) to South Australia's 5.10 (40)' (Wikipedia). Watson was one of the best on field in the Grand Final, and kicked a goal in the semi-final, two in the Championship match, and three in the match against the SAFL side, but his career was to be cut tragically short. His obituary in 'The Mail' (16 June 1917) reads: 'Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Watson, of Botting street, Albert Park, Woodville, have been notified that their son, Company Sgt.-Mjr. Joseph Charles Watson, died of wounds on May 12 at the Third Casualty Clearing Station, France. Company Sgt.-Mjr. Watson, who was 23 years of age, was born at Albert Park and educated at the Alberton School. He was very popular, and held in high esteem by many friends. He was a fine athlete and well known in sporting circles, especially football. At the age of 17 he commenced his football career, playing with the Port Adelaide Senior Football Club until the time of his enlistment. He played with the last South Australian interstate team, and was playing in the football carnival in Sydney when war was declared. He enlisted on September 10, and left South Australia on October 20, 1914, with the original 10th Battalion, and fought right through the Gallipoli campaign, afterwards going to France. He took part in the capture of Pozieres, and fought with great courage during that attack. For some time after this he was acting in command of his platoon, which did not have an officer. He landed at Gallipoli as a private, and gradually worked his way up to company sergeant-major. On November 28, he was taken dangerously ill with pneumonia, but was so keen to get back to the firing line that instead of taking his furlough he went straight back to the trenches'.
Item #127065
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