Jack Watts kicks six goals as Port Adelaide defeats Adelaide Crows in JLT Series

JACK Watts has given an early tick to Port Adelaide’s off-season recruiting spree with a six-goal haul to lead the Power to victory in the Summer Showdown against the Crows.

Rory Laird of the Crows and Dom Barry of Power in action.

JACK Watts is free of his demons. The much-questioned 2008 No.1 draft pick from Melbourne has reaffirmed AFL players do find their best in moving to Ken Hinkley’s program at Port Adelaide.

Watts, 27 this month, answered the Power’s need to be more than Charlie Dixon in attack with a commanding six-goal return in the pre-season closing summer Showdown with Adelaide at the sun-scorched Alberton Oval.

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Not once in his often-criticised 153 AFL games with the Demons did Watts kick six goals. His work at half-forward underlines why he is an important gain for Hinkley as the Power works to the challenge of being more efficient and productive with inside-50s.

Port Adelaide ended the Crows’ recent dominance of the Adelaide derbies with a powerful second half after falling 26 points down at halftime. The 26-point win — 16.2 (98) to 11.6 (72) — leaves both SA-based AFL clubs with a 1-1 record from the JLT Community Series pre-season and with differing agendas to clear away before the AFL premiership season starts in a fortnight.

Watts’ performance did underline attack still can be the best form of defence. And it needs to be for Hinkley’s playbook considering the big question that still hangs over Port Adelaide is at half-back.

Jack Watts celebrates with Robbie Gray after one of his six goals.

Not even the accomplished Power half-back Hamish Hartlett could always clear the fog created by frustrating turnovers or Adelaide’s “in your face” attention to making every inside-50 sortie become a score. Port Adelaide’s options to deal with this challenge were hurt with Jasper Pittard copping a hamstring injury in the third term to join fellow defender Matthew Broadbent (ankle) on the injury list.

Again, the Port Adelaide midfield — that is still without Brisbane recruit Tom Rockliff — is most responsible for changing this script by taking the heat off the Power defenders, either by keeping the play moving to their new-look attack … or creating better targets for their defenders to find under pressure.

Rory Laird spoils Dom Barry.

The Power’s running game after halftime — when Adelaide led by 26 points after outscoring Port Adelaide 2:1, 8.4 to 4.2 — proved this point. The Crows created this advantage working well-worn themes against the Power by dominating stoppages in the first half and working “team attack” to put enormous pressure on the Port Adelaide defence.

Youth stood out in this pre-season closer.

Adelaide’s first pick in last year’s national draft, Darcy Fogarty (No.12), is the standout to be join Carlton recruit Bryce Gibbs as the first new faces in the Crows’ line-up. The strongly built teenager — with the perfect frame to carry Adelaide’s famous No.32 jumper — tormented the Power’s most-experienced defender Tom Jonas with three set shots at goals (for 2.1) in the opening 14 minutes.

Jasper Pittard finished the match on the bench with ice on his hamstring. Picture: Sarah Reed

Port Adelaide’s new linchpin in defence — converted forward-ruckman Dougal Howard — continues to be a success story on his return from his serious knee injury in 2016. His defining moment was midway through the second term. He pinned the Crows’ most-dangerous forward, All-Australian Eddie Betts, to the boundary and defending so well that Betts did not score nor set up an assist with his kick.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 3.1 4.2 10.2 16.2 (98)

ADELAIDE 4.2 8.4 9.5 11.6 (72)

BEST:

Port Adelaide: Watts, Westhoff, Motlop, R. Gray, Howard, Hartlett.

Adelaide: Sloane, Atkins, Fogarty, Gibbs, M. Crouch, Laird.

GOALS:

Port Adelaide: Watts 6, R. Gray, S. Gray, Wingard 2, Dixon, Howard, Ryder, Westhoff.

Adelaide: Fogarty 3, Atkins, Gibbs 2, Gibson, Lynch, McGovern, Sloane.

INJURIES

Port Adelaide: Pittard (hamstring).

Umpires: M. Stevic, L. Fisher, R. Chamberlain

Crowd: 6157 at Alberton Oval.