‘All good things come to an end’: Tim Watson announces retirement after 30 remarkable years
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As the sun sets on a remarkable era, the Australian television landscape is set to change with the departure of a familiar face.
A veteran broadcaster has announced his retirement from television, ending a storied 30-year association with Channel 7.
His exit marks not just the conclusion of a chapter in broadcasting but also the end of a daily ritual for countless viewers who have come to regard Watson as a fixture in their evening news experience.
Tim Watson, a stalwart of 7NEWS Melbourne, began his journey with Channel 7 in 1992 when he joined the network as a boundary rider.
Over the years, his role expanded significantly. Watson became a special commentator for Seven’s AFL coverage and has been the trusted sportscaster for the past 11 years, reading the sports news on Melbourne’s flagship 6 PM bulletin.
His announcement, made during Monday night's bulletin, was met with a mix of surprise and nostalgia.
‘I am finishing up in December,’ Watson declared, signalling the end of an era.
‘I will work almost up until Christmas, so it's been almost 30 years I have been here.’
‘I have enjoyed every moment, love working alongside you (Peter Mitchell), but all good things come to an end,’ he added.
The news was received with a sense of poignancy by his co-anchor, Peter Mitchell, who acknowledged ‘a lot of people will be sad to hear that’.
Watson, known for his wit, signed off with a trademark joke, ‘You know when it's the right time to move on? When nobody tries to talk you out of it.’
‘It is the end of an era, we wish you well when the time comes,’ Mitchell added.
Watson's career in media was a natural progression following an illustrious AFL career with Essendon.
Starting in 1977, Watson played 307 games with the club, being part of the 1984, 1985, and 1993 premiership teams.
He retired in 1991 and became a boundary rider for Channel 7 in 1992.
Watson joined the commentary team for the 1992 AFL grand final before Kevin Sheedy convinced him to come out of retirement in 1993.
He helped the ‘Baby Bombers’ win the 1993 premiership and played nine more games in 1994 before retiring permanently.
His accolades include the 1989 Leigh Matthews Trophy for VFL MVP and four club best and fairest awards. Post-career, Watson coached St Kilda from 1999-2000.
He came back to Seven as co-host of The Game and, in 2002, joined Bruce McAvaney and Caroline Wilson on the Talking Footy team.
Beyond television, Watson has been a familiar voice on Melbourne radio station SEN since its inception in 2004.
Chris Salter, Director of 7NEWS Melbourne, praised Watson's contributions: ‘He leaves Seven as a legend of the media.’
‘We thank Tim for his professionalism and many years of loyal service. Viewers will miss him, and the newsroom will too.'
Peter Mitchell echoed these sentiments, adding, ‘Having Tim come in to sit beside me on weeknights for so long has been one of the privileges of my job at Seven. He’s not only a Bombers legend, he really is also one of the finest people I’ve ever met.’
‘Aside from his on-air talent and insights, I’m going to deeply miss our behind-the-scenes banter about such a diverse range of topics, from footy to Taylor Swift, pizza ovens and toppings, to politics, music and families.’
‘I wish Tim and his extended family nothing but the best with his new direction,’ Mitchell continued.
As the sports broadcasting landscape continues to evolve, another significant departure has caught the attention of AFL fans.
Aside from Tim Watson's announcement that he will leave Channel 7 at the end of the year, marking the end of a distinguished career, another iconic figure in AFL commentary, Luke Darcy, is also stepping away from the microphone.
Darcy's decision to bid farewell to broadcasting for new ventures signals a notable shift in the industry as both respected commentators move on to new chapters in their lives.
To our readers at the Seniors Discount Club, we invite you to share your favourite memories of Tim Watson on television. How has his reporting impacted your understanding of sports? What will you miss most about his presence on Channel 7? Join the conversation and pay tribute to a man who has been more than just a news anchor—he's been a part of our daily lives.
A veteran broadcaster has announced his retirement from television, ending a storied 30-year association with Channel 7.
His exit marks not just the conclusion of a chapter in broadcasting but also the end of a daily ritual for countless viewers who have come to regard Watson as a fixture in their evening news experience.
Tim Watson, a stalwart of 7NEWS Melbourne, began his journey with Channel 7 in 1992 when he joined the network as a boundary rider.
Over the years, his role expanded significantly. Watson became a special commentator for Seven’s AFL coverage and has been the trusted sportscaster for the past 11 years, reading the sports news on Melbourne’s flagship 6 PM bulletin.
His announcement, made during Monday night's bulletin, was met with a mix of surprise and nostalgia.
Tim Watson announced his retirement from Channel 7, ending a 30-year tenure with the network. Credit: Facebook 7NEWS Melbourne
‘I am finishing up in December,’ Watson declared, signalling the end of an era.
‘I will work almost up until Christmas, so it's been almost 30 years I have been here.’
‘I have enjoyed every moment, love working alongside you (Peter Mitchell), but all good things come to an end,’ he added.
The news was received with a sense of poignancy by his co-anchor, Peter Mitchell, who acknowledged ‘a lot of people will be sad to hear that’.
Watson, known for his wit, signed off with a trademark joke, ‘You know when it's the right time to move on? When nobody tries to talk you out of it.’
‘It is the end of an era, we wish you well when the time comes,’ Mitchell added.
Watson's career in media was a natural progression following an illustrious AFL career with Essendon.
Starting in 1977, Watson played 307 games with the club, being part of the 1984, 1985, and 1993 premiership teams.
He retired in 1991 and became a boundary rider for Channel 7 in 1992.
Watson joined the commentary team for the 1992 AFL grand final before Kevin Sheedy convinced him to come out of retirement in 1993.
He helped the ‘Baby Bombers’ win the 1993 premiership and played nine more games in 1994 before retiring permanently.
His accolades include the 1989 Leigh Matthews Trophy for VFL MVP and four club best and fairest awards. Post-career, Watson coached St Kilda from 1999-2000.
He came back to Seven as co-host of The Game and, in 2002, joined Bruce McAvaney and Caroline Wilson on the Talking Footy team.
Beyond television, Watson has been a familiar voice on Melbourne radio station SEN since its inception in 2004.
Chris Salter, Director of 7NEWS Melbourne, praised Watson's contributions: ‘He leaves Seven as a legend of the media.’
‘We thank Tim for his professionalism and many years of loyal service. Viewers will miss him, and the newsroom will too.'
Peter Mitchell echoed these sentiments, adding, ‘Having Tim come in to sit beside me on weeknights for so long has been one of the privileges of my job at Seven. He’s not only a Bombers legend, he really is also one of the finest people I’ve ever met.’
‘Aside from his on-air talent and insights, I’m going to deeply miss our behind-the-scenes banter about such a diverse range of topics, from footy to Taylor Swift, pizza ovens and toppings, to politics, music and families.’
‘I wish Tim and his extended family nothing but the best with his new direction,’ Mitchell continued.
As the sports broadcasting landscape continues to evolve, another significant departure has caught the attention of AFL fans.
Aside from Tim Watson's announcement that he will leave Channel 7 at the end of the year, marking the end of a distinguished career, another iconic figure in AFL commentary, Luke Darcy, is also stepping away from the microphone.
Darcy's decision to bid farewell to broadcasting for new ventures signals a notable shift in the industry as both respected commentators move on to new chapters in their lives.
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