Jack Watts will have to earn his spot back in Port Adelaide’s best 22, says assistant coach Jarrad Schofield
Port Adelaide’s Jack Watts is making good progress in his return from a broken ankle. But a Power assistant coach has hinted the former No. 1 draft pick won’t be a walk-up start when fit.
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He’s a former No. 1 draft pick, can play numerous positions and has an elite kick that now looks required in the Port Adelaide backline.
But will Jack Watts win a spot in the Power side upon his return to competitive football?
The 28-year-old was named in Port’s initial squad to take on Brisbane in its first Marsh Community Series match – on the back of showing some nice moments in the Power’s internal trial – as he steps up a return from a season-ending leg injury against Carlton in Round 2 last year.
The former Demon will again get a chance to prove he is fit enough to make a return to competitive footy this week, ahead of the second Marsh Series game against the Western Bulldogs at Whyalla on Saturday.
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But Port assistant coach Jarrad Schofield said even if Watts was ticked off medically, he wasn’t necessarily guaranteed a spot in the side.
“He couldn’t play through injury, but he needs to get some training, if he’s right to play and up for selection we will definitely look at him,” he said.
“If he is right, he is in the mix – if not, we keep pushing forward.
“His performance on the track has been fine, it’s just whether there is a spot for him.
“That’s the healthy position we are in as a footy club, Ollie (Wines) is the only long-termer (with his shoulder injury).”
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Before Watts suffered the broken fibula/dislocated right ankle, one of the most scrutinised AFL players in recent years had played one of his best games for the Power against his former side in the Round 1 win at the MCG.
This followed an off-season from hell for Watts, where he was caught up in a texting scandal and had a video surface online of him at Germany’s Oktoberfest.
This performance came in the backline, which looks to be the most likely position Watts could re-enter the Power’s side in following the fine start young forward Mitch Georgiades has had since being taken in the first round at last year’s draft.
Justin Westhoff looks set for a return to centre half-back, with Hamish Hartlett and Riley Bonner likely to line up there as well.
A solid pre-season by Trent McKenzie has also put him in the mix.
But Dan Houston’s move forward into the midfield means there is lack of solid kicking in Port’s backline, a reason why the Power saw Dougal Howard’s future up forward, and Watts could be the man to step into that void.
But evident by Schofield’s comments, a walk-up return for Watts is far from guaranteed.
Port star Robbie Gray is expected to face the Bulldogs after withdrawing from the State of Origin game with foot soreness.
Ruck Scott Lycett has pulled up well from the bushfire relief game, while Georgiades is also back in contention after a short rest.
That leaves Wines as the only long-term injured player as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but the Power vice-captain is able to “shadow” players in training.
Zak Butters came off sore after running into Hartlett at training but Schofield said the youngster was fine.