Paul Roos believes Jack Watts can now be free of No.1 pick baggage after move to Port Adelaide

PAUL Roos helped Jack Watts consider his playing future at the end of last season before being traded to Port Adelaide and the former coach believes the move should free him of the No.1 pick pressure that has plagued his career.

Jack Watts was traded to Port Adelaide at the end of last season. Picture: Sarah Reed

PAUL Roos has revealed his excitement for former charge Jack Watts as the Power recruit prepares for his first season at Port Adelaide.
The former Melbourne forward said this week that Roos had been a sounding board for him as he weighed up the move, eventually landing at the Power in last year’s trade period.

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Roos said the conversations between the pair will remain private, but he couldn’t be happier for the 26-year-old, who he coached between 2014 and 2016.

“I get on well with Wattsy — I really like him as a person,” Roos said.

Jack Watts was traded to Port Adelaide at the end of last season. Picture: Sarah Reed

“We spoke a little bit about where he should go, where he should play and what he should do.

“They were good — obviously private — conversations that we had, and I think it’s good when you’ve got relationships.

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“That’s what footy clubs are all about — trying to build relationships with players and trying to help them through when they need you. It was a bit more as a friend, really, and someone who’s coached him and understands him and trying to give him some direction on his future which is very important.”

Jack Watts spoke to Paul Roos when weighing up his playing future. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Roos said he “probably didn’t” think that moving clubs was necessarily the solution, but he is looking forward to Watts not facing so much scrutiny.

“I’m excited for him — he probably finally doesn’t carry that baggage of being the No.1 pick now, because you’ve got Chad Wingard, Robbie Gray, Charlie Dixon — all these very high-profile players at Port,” he said.

“He can just to go there (and) play a role, and do a role very well. I hope he has enormous success because he’s an outstanding human being.”

Originally published as Paul Roos believes Jack Watts can now be free of No.1 pick baggage after move to Port Adelaide