Recruit Jack Watts labelled “The Difference’’ as Port Adelaide aims to set the record straight

KANE Cornes has labelled key recruit Jack Watts “The Difference’’ as Port Adelaide aims to set the record straight.

KANE Cornes has labelled him “The Difference’’.

Port Adelaide says he has shown in five short months at Alberton that he is already the best kick at the club — on both sides of his body.

Of all the Power's seven off-season pick-ups from rival AFL clubs, former Demon Watts’ recruitment looms as the biggest game-changer.

“It’s a bit tongue in cheek but ‘The Difference’ isn’t a bad name for him because clearly, with his polish, he can be a difference-maker for Port,’’ Power great Cornes said of the 195cm key forward Melbourne selected at No. 1 overall at the 2008 national draft.

“I think they needed Watts in their forward line because they’ve been far too reliant on Charlie Dixon being the sole tall down there.

Port Adelaide’s Jack Watts celebrates with Steven Motlop. Picture: SARAH REED

“I know Watts doesn’t play as a genuine tall but he’s a really good foil for Dixon and his kicking is elite.

“I think it’s important to note that he’s not going to have a massive impact every week but I think he’s a good chance of winning three or four games off his own boot if his form remains strong.

“And that can take Port from seventh on the ladder to top four, which means he could be the big difference.’’

Watts was deemed expendable at Melbourne after kicking 143 goals in 153 games in nine seasons because of questions over his toughness and competitiveness.

But he is a brilliant kick and link-up man between centre and inside 50 — an area the Power was poor in last season and cost it a top-four finish.

Port’s inability to finish off its work was highlighted in the dramatic extra-time semi-final loss to West Coast when it had 17 more inside 50s and lost.

“You should never lose a game when that happens,’’ coach Ken Hinkley said.

Jack Watts NumberCrunch Round 1

Watts, 26, illustrated his value to Port in the final JLT Community Series pre-season match against hometown rival Adelaide when he was best-afield with six goals and 138 SuperCoach points.

“He’s a very composed footballer and very calm when he gets the footy in his hand,’’ Cornes told The Advertiser.

“Port’s delivery inside 50 and goalkicking accuracy has been a worry and Watts is just a good settler to have in the forward line.

“If he takes a mark 30m from goal you know he’s probably going to go back and slot it, which is massive for the morale of the team.’’

The Power last year ranked a poor 13th for goals per inside 50 (23.6 per cent) and dreadful 16th for retention rate from kicks inside 50 (46.7 per cent).

Hinkley hopes Watts can help dramatically improve both key statistics.

“We’re a good stoppage team, first for stoppage score, we were second in team defence and points against, third for points for,’’ he told Fox Footy.

“We had opportunities, we created a lot of entries. We just didn’t hurt sides enough when we had the chances.

“That’s why when Jack became available we went, ‘Wow’. He’s going to come in and kick it to big Charlie who is going to continually compete for him and allow Jack to do what Jack does really well.

“For us we talked about our need to finish. Watts is an elite finisher. It fits. Steven Motlop (recruited from Geelong) is an elite finisher.

“Tom Rockliff (from Brisbane) is an incredibly smart footballer who helps finish and kicks goals. Our planning has been pretty clear, we wanted to help straighten up our front half.”

Watts ranks equal-third in the AFL for retention rate of kicks inside 50 in the past five seasons.

His 59.1 per cent retention rate sits only behind four-times Hawthorn premiership forward Cyril Rioli (65 per cent) and Adelaide’s Tom Lynch (61), whose “connector’’ role Watts is tipped to emulate at Port.

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