Out-of-favour Demon Jack Watts could help Port Adelaide Power charge up ladder and into premiership contention
OUT-OF-FAVOUR Demon Jacks Watts — along with Tom Rockliff and Steve Motlop — could be the missing piece Port Adelaide needs to contend for a premiership.
Chris McDermott
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HAVE a crack at Jack.
Despite claims he wants to be a Melbourne player for life and stay in his home city, Port Adelaide must put its hat in the ring for out-of-favour Demon Jack Watts.
He may divide opinion and he has certainly had his critics over the years, but he’s done more than enough in recent times to prove he has plenty to offer the right team.
That team could be Port Adelaide.
The Power are screaming out for another tall forward. A forward who has mobility, creativity and can provide a chopout in ruck for Patty Ryder.
As I wrote in August, Jack Watts is that man.
The 26-year-old Watts could do with a fresh start and a different perspective on his football, and he will be guaranteed that at Alberton under Ken Hinkley.
As hard as it will be for Watts to part from his football club and his mates, for his football sake he must make a fresh start now, before it is too late.
The Dees are on the rise and will be helped with the inclusion of Jake Lever in 2018 but their coach Simon Goodwin has all but declared there is no place in his team for Watts.
That should be a good enough indication he needs a new home.
He has plenty to offer the Power.
The forward kicked 22 goals in his 16 games in 2017 after kicking 38 goals from 22 games the year before.
He’s potentially a 50-goal forward.
Alongside Dixon, Wingard, Robbie Gray, Sam Gray and co he could be one of the missing links the Power desperately need.
The inclusions of Tom Rockliff from Brisbane and Watts along with the possibility of Stevie Motlop from Geelong could be enough to propel the Power into the top four and right into premiership contention.
This trade period is looming as the biggest of all time and the Power must be a big player.
They must trade aggressively and with courage, understanding their premiership window will open wide if they can recruit quality players to fill gaping holes in the playing group.
Rockliff, Motlop and Watts do exactly that.
A strong-bodied quality midfielder such as Rockliff would allow Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard more time in the forward line.
A slick, smooth-moving quality forward/midfielder such as Motlop can run and carry and hit the scoreboard, taking pressure off Charlie Dixon and another key forward such as Watts.
Watts is a must.
Go hard to get him.
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