TIM WATSON has been fooled. We all have. When the Essendon champion made his debut in 1977 aged 15 years and 305 days, he was announced as the third-youngest player to play VFL/AFL football.
Collingwood's Keith Bromage was thought to be the youngest ever, having made his debut for Collingwood in round 17, 1953 aged 15 years and 287 days.
Another Magpie, Albert Collier, was 15 years and 297 days old when he played his first game in round one, 1925, putting him into second place. But a recent finding has changed football history - and the place Watson, Collier and Bromage formerly held in it.
A player initially assumed to be 19-year-old Claude Lindsay Clough made his debut for St Kilda in round one, 1900. It was the Saints' historic first win in League football after 48 consecutive defeats.
Football researcher Stephen Rodgers was checking unrelated information in the Melbourne Herald dated June 8, 1900, when he noticed a reference to a young player named Clough. Clough was a recent addition to the St Kilda team, and the reference stated he would not celebrate his 16th birthday until the following October.
Rodgers' intuition was piqued. He dug around, searching through records of Wesley College, Brighton Grammar School, the Argus newspaper, the Collegians Football Club history book, Victorian birth records and electoral rolls.
He discovered one of football's great hidden tales. His research proved that the player was actually Claud Hamilton Clough, who was born October 8, 1884 at St Kilda.
This means Clough was 15 years and 209 days on debut - making him the youngest debutant ever and seeing him jump ahead of Bromage, Collier and Watson.
"That's outrageous," Watson joked when AFL.com.au told him he had been bumped off the podium into fourth place.
"I know I've criticised the AFL in the last couple of days about some things but I didn't think they'd go to those lengths.
"Before I concede my position as the third-youngest player ever to play the game I'd like to see some confirmation or verification of this bloke's birth certificate."
Watson does, however, have Clough's measure in the longevity stakes. The three-time Essendon premiership player and former captain played 307 games over 17 seasons at the club and retired aged 33.
Clough, a half-forward, kicked eight goals in 23 games and retired as a 16-year-old in 1901. He died in 1922, aged 37.
Statistics provided by Col Hutchison, AFL historian
Follow Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
