Bone’s beef: Jack Watts could light up Port Adelaide — and a direct swap with Jackson Trengove makes sense
A SHIFT to Alberton could be a win-win situation for former top draft pick Jack Watts, argues AFL expert Chris McDermott.
Chris McDermott
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SOMETIMES a change of scenery is the best thing for a player.
A player that has tried everything and has given everything but has not succeeded or got close to realising his dreams is better off moving to a new club to be the best he can possibly be.
It may not always work but there comes a time in many players’ careers where the decision must be made and the choice is simple.
Move.
Take a leap of faith. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Staying is easy and can be detrimental.
It was the way of days of old but times are a changing.
Tom Scully took the risk, moved from Melbourne to GWS and has never looked back.
He is now the player he always promised to be and on the verge of premiership success.
He took the risk and is reaping the rewards.
Jack Gunston. Shaun Burgoyne. Brian Lake. James Frawley.
All took a risk and have all been rewarded.
Others have not been so lucky, Lance Franklin the most obvious after walking out on Hawthorn in 2013 after two Premierships only to miss out on further success in 2014 and 2015 and come runner-up at the Swans in 2016. But his day is coming again soon.
Melbourne forward Jack Watts looks to be the next player to face a similar decision.
The 26 year old former top draft pick has been through the toughest times at the Melbourne Football Club and just when all looks rosy and Watts himself appeared to have conquered his demons, he gets injured and has to work his way back to senior level through the VFL.
It has not been an easy return.
His form has been poor and he has felt the wrath of the umpires and been sent to the MRP.
He escaped penalty but his elevation to senior level is no closer.
His misfortune has been Cam Pederson’s good fortune and the veteran swingman has made every post a winner. He is all but guaranteed a game until the season’s end.
Watts is not.
Both are unlikely to play in the same team. It is one or the other.
Watts is the other.
He has signed a contract until the end of the 2019 season but it may be time to cut his losses and seek a new home. Alberton could be it.
The Power need another tall in attack.
A player with some seniority and experience would be invaluable and while Jasper Pittard has decided to stay, Jackson Trengove remains undecided.
A swap, like for like, could work.
Watts is 196cm tall, weighs 93kg and has played 152 games
Trengove is 197cm tall, 97kg, has played 153 games and is five months older.
They are almost identical. They may have been separated at birth.
It could be a win for both player and club and that is rare.
The days of staying put and hoping your luck will change are over.
There comes a time when you must make your own luck.
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History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
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