The 1993 Grand Final should have been a jubilant occasion for the Watson family.
Essendon had won its 15th premiership with a 44-point victory over arch-rivals Carlton, with midfielder Tim Watson featuring for the Bombers.
On the morning of the match, Watson made a promise to his son, Jobe, about what would’ve been an unmissable experience after the game.
However, it turned out not to be, with Jobe admitting he still hasn’t forgotten about the broken promise.
“This is the morning of the Grand Final, the 1993 Grand Final,” Jobe told SEN Breakfast.
“I’m sitting on Mum and Dad’s bed, I would’ve been eight or nine, we’re reading The Age and Dad’s going through what could happen today and things like that and I said: ‘That’s so exciting, it’s fantastic’.
“He said to me: ‘If we win, come down to the side, I’ll find you and I’ll take you for a lap of honour with the players’.
“It’s the last quarter, we’re going down there, obviously the game’s over, I’m excited, the siren blows, the players come around and Dad looks at me, he looks at the (premiership) cup and just keeps going to the cup.”
Watson attempted to defend himself for abandoning his son at the MCG, arguing that the occasion itself took over.
“I had a choice, Garry,” he said.
“I was going to carry Jobe or the premiership cup. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to carry the premiership cup.”
Ironically, Watson was named Victorian Father of the Year in that same year, 1993.
Listen to Jobe’s hilarious story on the 1993 Grand Final on SEN Breakfast in the player below.