Geelong has lost one of its most long serving football department members with player development manager Ron Watt departing for the AFL Coaches Association.
 
Watt will replace Michael Poulton who is joining the AFL as Competition and Stakeholder Manager.

A qualified teacher, Watt hasdworked at the Geelong FC since 1998, commencing as a Development Coach, then  as VFL Coach for five years. Since the end of 2004, Watt has been Geelong’s Player Development Manager.
 
AFLCA CEO Danny Frawley said, “We are very fortunate to have found a capable and suitable replacement for Michael who did a terrific job for us in his time here. Ron is really well qualified to mentor our members in coaching, education and development. We acknowledge Geelong’s understanding with the timing of the appointment, and appreciate that Ron will need to help transition a replacement for his role at GFC.”
 
“Ron has been a major member of our club for the better part of 15 years,” Geelong’s general manager of football Neil Balme said.
 
“In that time he has taken on a variety of roles and filled them in an outstanding manner. As VFL coach, Ron played a key role in developing many of the players that went on to lead the club to premiership success. After stepping away from his coaching role, he took up the position as player development manager and continued to be a key influence on our players. Ron has always been a popular member of the club and his contribution will be always appreciated by those that he impacted. We thank Ron for his time with the club and wish him well in this new role where we are sure he will have the same positive impact that he has had with us.”
 
Ron will commence his involvement with the AFLCA in February