Carlton Football Club has sent the AFL world into a spin after seemingly officiating the relationship between their AFLW champion Keeley Sherar and Hawthorn's emerging star Nick 'The Wizard' Watson.
A Blue Carpet Bombshell
The club's social media team dropped a not-so-subtle hint on Thursday night, publishing a gallery from their AFLW best-and-fairest awards. The very first image in the "blue carpet" carousel featured Hawthorn dynamo Nick Watson, donning a baby blue tie, arm-in-arm with Carlton's own Keeley Sherar.
This move was widely interpreted as the couple's official "hard launch," confirming rumours they had been quietly dating for months. The Blues captioned the gallery with a cheeky "Blue carpet antics ?", leaving little to the imagination.
Fan Frenzy Erupts Online
The revelation immediately set tongues wagging across social media platforms. Reactions ranged from shock and excitement to outright club rivalry banter.
One excited fan declared, "Wizard to Carlton in 2027 confirmed," while another simply stated, "Seeing Nick Watson on the first slide was UNEXPECTED." The surprise was palpable, with a third user exclaiming, "What in GOD'S GREEN EARTH," directly tagging Watson.
AFLW reporter Sarah Black noted the club's cheeky manoeuvre, pointing out the choice of "reigning B&F Keeley Sherar and the Wizard (in a tasteful baby blue tie)" as the lead image. Not all Carlton faithful were pleased, however, with one supporter demanding, "Get Nick Watson off our socials now." Another speculated, "Surely Hawks aren’t gonna be happy."
Who Are the Stars of the Show?
Keeley Sherar is a cornerstone of Carlton's AFLW side, having won the club's best-and-fairest award last year. This season, that honour went to Irish basketball convert and midfielder Dayna Finn, who also earned her first All-Australian blazer and was named Carlton's best finals player.
On the other side of the romance is Nick 'The Wizard' Watson. The 20-year-old, 170cm Hawthorn forward has taken the AFL by storm since being drafted with Pick 5 in 2023. In a breakout 2024 season, he booted 36 goals. Across his two seasons at the top level, Watson has played 43 games and slotted a career total of 61 goals.
Both athletes experienced preliminary final heartbreak this year. Sherar's Carlton fell to Brisbane by 35 points, while Watson's Hawthorn lost to Geelong by 30 points.
The club's playful social media post has undoubtedly stolen the off-season spotlight, merging on-field talent with off-field intrigue and giving AFL fans plenty to talk about.
