Jack Watts traded to Port Adelaide with Melbourne set to supplement his contract

MELBOURNE’S desperation to trade former No.1 pick Jack Watts was laid bare on Tuesday as they moved the much-loved playmaker to Port Adelaide.

Jack Watts has been traded to Port Adelaide.

JACK Watts will play for Port Adelaide next year and Melbourne will help pay him to do it.

The Demons’ desperation to trade Watts was laid bare on Tuesday by the club’s decision to accept pick No.31 from the Power and also tip in some of his salary of around $500,000.

The Herald Sun on Friday exclusively revealed that Watts had chosen the Power, despite interest from Geelong and Sydney.

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Watts formalised that decision on Tuesday afternoon before a deal was swiftly agreed upon by Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

Asked on SEN whether the Demons would be paying some of Watts’ salary next year, Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said: “Possibly”.

The 26-year had another year to run on his contract with the Demons and didn’t want to leave the club.

Jack Watts at Melbourne training.

Melbourne had initially sought a pick in the 20s for Watts, but ultimately accepted Port’s second-round offer for a player it had clearly grown fed up with.

The forward last week finished 21st in Melbourne’s best-and-fairest and spent time in the VFL.

“There is no doubt that this has been a difficult decision for the club to make, but the list management group felt that Jack’s consistency of performance while at Melbourne hasn’t been at the level expected of a player with his experience,” Mahoney said.

“This may be attributed to the fact that Jack has attracted immense public interest from day one. This has no doubt placed an unfair amount of pressure and expectation on Jack throughout his career at Melbourne and both parties feel like a change of environment and a fresh start will be the best thing for Jack’s career.

“We know that Jack is a well-liked character, but we’ve based this decision on performance and what is best for both parties.

“While this has been a hard football decision, we have made great strides in rebuilding our playing list and we will continue to make hard decisions to ensure that we take the club to where our supporters want it to be, which is a club capable of sustained success.”

Jack Watts in action for Casey this season.

Watts follows a big-name migration to Alberton, with free agent duo Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop already joining the Power on lucrative four-year deals.

“From a club perspective there’s a lot to be optimistic about,” Watts said.

“Port Adelaide finished just outside the top four last 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 Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard.”

Watts, the 2008 No.1 draft pick, kicked 143 goals in 153 games for Melbourne and had grown from whipping boy to a fan favourite.