Declan Watson Biography

North Melbourne re-signs Declan Watson for 2019, allowing the second-year defender to focus on his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction rather than attempting to rush back to play in 2018.

"Initially, I was pretty keen to get back and prove myself but as of last week, they just gave me the one-year extension so there's not really any pressure to prove myself now, which is nice," Watson said.

"It's definitely exciting seeing the success of both teams this year and (I'm) definitely looking forward to next year, getting out there and hopefully adding to it."

Declan Watson faces a year out of football after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at training.

Watson, 18, crumbled to the Arden St surface clutching his knee early in the session and was quickly surrounded by North Melbourne trainers.

He was able to walk from the ground with a trainer on each side of him, but was visibly distressed. The Roos' medical staff immediately sent him for scans that confirmed their worst suspicions.

"It was a really innocuous, slight change of direction and his knee buckled," Kangaroos caoch Brad Scott said.

"So it's an ACL rupture and that will be 12 months (out) for Declan after his best game at North Melbourne (in the VFL) last week, so it's bitterly disappointing for him and for the club."

North Melbourne select Declan Watson with pick No.34 in the 2016 National Draft.

"A key defender who just gets the job done. He reads the play really well, has matched up against some of the better forwards this year and acquitted himself quite capably," North recruitment manager Bryce Lewis said

"He can body and negate but he does come off and reads the play very well. He also gets involved in the play on the way out too."