Coming soon to a New York cafe near you: The Espressendon. Instead of taking marks, Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson is set to make his macchiato in New York's coffee scene.
Watson, 32, is one of the Essendon players sidelined for the season by the ASADA supplements scandal. News percolated through overnight that his substance of choice will now be caffeine, which seems like a fair trade to us.
Watson has said "see you latte" to his life in Melbourne despite ongoing uncertainty over whether the Brownlow medal he won in 2012 will be stripped by the AFL Commission. Before leaving he undertook a barista course.
Or as Watson's father and fellow footy champ Tim said on radio SEN this morning "he did a bit of a coffee type course before he left".
Current Essendon captain Brendon Goddard said that Watson does not yet have a working visa for the US, but "he's gone over there with the intention to make coffees".
"He thought it'd be a good idea to go over there and experience New York life but also get involved in the Australian coffee culture in New York. I think [he'll be] arguably the best paid barista over there."
Not to put the mocha on a bloke who we think is using his time off wisely, but can Jobe Watson actually make a decent coffee?
Tim Watson said his son had never actually made him one, and was uncertain of his ability to create pine tree patterns (or other designs) on froth.
But we've got a feeling his brews will be best-on-grounds every week.