Hawthorn star Nick Watson has seen his sledge backfire spectacularly as the Hawks were stunned by the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
On fire in the first half, the ‘Wizard’ gave it to opponent Michael Sellwood on several occasions.
Watson notched nine disposals in a game-high seven score involvements at halftime, kicking 3.1.
And he didn’t miss a chance to let Sellwood know about those goals as well, with the pair at the centre of all-in scuffles more than once.
After kicking his third just before halftime, Watson again charged at Sellwood, giving him a gob full, which ended in a huge scuffle.
He then fired another shot at the break.
“I don’t care if he talks, as long as he walks the walk,” Watson told Fox Footy at halftime when asked about his exchanges with Sellwood.
“I’d love to see it in the second half.”
Watson soon learnt not to go off early as he struggled in the second half, with just one kick and a single handball as Sellwood and his teammates turned it up.
The Dogs roared home, coming from 27 points down at half time to defeat the Hawks 77-71 in a thrilling, fiery clash.
They were in desperate need of a win against a top club, and they got one, having lost four consecutive matches against Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney and Fremantle between rounds 5 and 8, by a combined 193 points.
And Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said Watson was just taught a valuable lesson.
“It’s a great learning curve for this man. I love that he is in his opponents’ faces but there are footy gods and you can get taught a lesson,” Cornes said on AFL.com’s First Up on Friday night.
“After saying what has Sellwood got in the second half it was Watson that had two touches and didn’t touch the ball in the final quarter.
“As a 21 year old you learn some harsh lessons as a player and tonight he will be putting his head on the pillow and going I and we got ahead of ourselves and we’ve coughed up the unlosable game tonight.”
Michael Sellwood gets last laugh
Michael Sellwood, indeed, “walked the walk”.
Sellwood had eight touches in the second half and completely blanketed Watson and had something to say to his rival at full-time.
“I know he’s a very opportunistic player and if you have a lapse in concentration, he’ll probably kick one on you, “Sellwood told Fox Footy post-game.
“He got a couple on me early, but just backed myself in.
“I probably felt I was playing a bit too one-on-one on him (early). I’m more of an intercepting player and help my teammates out. I felt like in the second half I was able to do that while also nullifying him.”
Asked about the niggle with Watson, Sellwood said: “It’s good. I love that side of things.
“Probably growing up – one of 10 (kids), four older brothers – so we were always just wrestling trying to pick up the scraps, I guess. I’ve always just had that bit of mongrel about me, which I think stands up well.
“Opposition fans aren’t going to like it, but it is what it is.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge ultimately kept the faith in Sellwood to do the job on Watson – and he couldn’t have been prouder of his defender’s “unbelievable job” post-match.
“Not only did he stop him and negate him, he helped in the air,” Beveridge told reporters. “His third-up stuff was just ridiculous.
“He rolled his ankle, he came off, we thought we were going to lose him. So he just showed enormous courage.“
– with Fox Sports
Originally published as Hawthorn star Nick Watson’s cocky taunt backfires spectacularly as Western Bulldogs pull off upset