Geelong premiership player and WAFL great John Watts has passed away, aged 80.

Watts played 52 career matches, including the 1963 flag win against Hawthorn.

The Grand Final victory came in his first year with the Cats, where he would play until the end of the 1965 season.

Watts holds a special place in Geelong's history as he wrote the lyrics to the club's song in 1963.

He played 166 games for East Perth in the WAFL and 13 state matches for Western Australia, and was captain-coach of Hobart in the Tasmania Football League for 60 games.

After retirement, Watts had a long career in the media.

The defender was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2008.