Contracted Melbourne forward Jack Watts confirms his move to Port Adelaide
IT is now done - Jack Watts is a Port Adelaide player with an AFL trade from Melbourne.
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PORT Adelaide has completed its trifecta of trade targets with contracted Melbourne forward Jack Watts joining the rush to Alberton.
Watts, 26, has joined the Power - for second-round draft pick No. 31.
Watts, who had two years to serve on his contract with the Demons, on Tuesday nominated Port Adelaide as his club of choice. The 2008 No. 1 draftee also had been courted by Sydney and Geelong.
Port Adelaide has now drawn two free agents - Brisbane midfielder Tom Rockliff and Geelong midfielder-forward Steve Motlop - and Watts to meet coach Ken Hinkley’s wish for more power in the midfield and more scoreboard potency.
And all three players moved to Alberton with the Power conceding just one pick from its calls at next month’s AFL national draft in Sydney.
Watts told Melbourne on Tuesday of his wish for a new start at Port Adelaide.
“From a club perspective there’s a lot to be optimistic about,” Watts said.
“Port Adelaide finished just outside the top four this year, have some really promising young players who are getting some experience under their belts and they’ve added two great footballers already to their list in Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop.
“Personally, I can’t wait for pre-season to begin so I can start working with the likes of Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak and Chad Wingard.”
Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps underlined Watts’ potential to work a tandem with key forward Charlie Dixon in a new-look Power attack.
“Jack has great skills, particularly by foot which we feel is an area where we can improve as a team,” Cripps said.
“He’s a good athlete too and an experienced player so we’re confident he’ll make our team better.”
Uncontracted Port Adelaide midfielder Brendon Ah Chee, the winner of the club’s SANFL best-and-fairest title, will move to West Coast as he seeks more opportunity in the AFL. The Power and West Coast will trade 2018 draft picks - Port Adelaide getting West Coast’s third-round call and the Eagles getting the Power’s fourth-round pick next year.
“I need the opportunity to play AFL football and feel that’s more likely at West Coast,” said Ah Chee who returns to his home base in WA.
The Power is still waiting to close deals for two other players wanting greater opportunity away from Alberton - contracted ruckman Matthew Lobbe at Brisbane and uncontracted specialist forward Aaron Young to Gold Coast.
Port Adelaide last week released free-agent utility Jackson Trengove to the Western Bulldogs and contracted forward Jarman Impey to Hawthorn.
Port Adelaide has until the trade deadline at 1.30pm on Thursday to redefine its player list.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
Originally published as Contracted Melbourne forward Jack Watts confirms his move to Port Adelaide
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