Melbourne forward Jack Watts will re-sign with the Demons in the coming weeks
MELBOURNE free agent Jack Watts will formally re-sign with the Demons in a major boost to the club’s attempts to snap its finals drought next season.
Melbourne
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MELBOURNE free agent Jack Watts will formally re-sign with the Demons in a major boost to the club’s attempts to snap its finals drought next season.
Watts, 25, has decided to stay at Melbourne, believing the club has been resurrected in recent years under chief executive Peter Jackson and coach Paul Roos.
Sources told the Herald Sun a new long-term deal for the restricted free agent will be finalised by his manager Paul Connors in the coming weeks.
The Herald Sun understands Watts never seriously considered leaving the club this year, and instead, is excited about the outlook under coach-in-waiting Simon Goodwin next season.
The Brighton Grammar product has enjoyed the best form of his eight-year career this season, averaging two goals and 16 disposals a game playing across half forward.
His signature will also assist the club’s bid to keep hulking fellow forward Jesse Hogan as the spearhead weighs up Melbourne’s prospects against a lucrative advance from Fremantle.
Melbourne has strong interest in banned Bomber Michael Hibberd in this year’s trade period as it attempts to bolster its backline with another damaging running defender.
Melbourne will also welcome back former Bomber Jake Melksham from his drugs ban.
The new deal ensures Watts, the man taken with the No. 1 draft pick in 2008, will play the prime part of his career at Melbourne and help drive its push towards its finals series since 2006.
The 130-gamer could have tested the free agency market at season’s end, but has shown great loyalty to Melbourne, last re-signing with the club when it was in crisis in 2013.
“I’m just so glad that I hung around because the guys here are my best mates and I love the club, even though we’ve had tough times,” Watts told the Herald Sun after his last contract.
“To see where we are at now and the enjoyable environment we are in — I’m not saying it means we are (automatically) going to win games because of it — but it’s a step in the journey and I am just really thankful that I’m here.”
Champion Data ranks Watts elite for average marks (6.7), contested marks (1.8), goals (two) and rankings points (85) a game this season.
He was instrumental in the win over Fremantle on Saturday night, booting three goals.
Watts said he questioned his football future in the early stages and credited Roos for helping save his career since the Sydney premiership coach joined the Demons in 2014.
But Watts is also known to have a strong relationship with Goodwin, who has helped implement a more attacking game style this season, increasing Melbourne’s average score from 71 points a game last season to 96 this year.
The Demons remain three wins outside the top-eight with seven games to go and need only one more victory to equal their best home and away season over the past decade.
Melbourne tackles St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Watts’s signature helps shore up Melbourne’s emerging list as football manager Josh Mahoney pursues long-term deals for key defender Tom McDonald and Rising Star winner Hogan.
McDonald, 23 remains out of contract at season’s end but the Demons have been adamant they will not overpay their star players as they search for greater list depth.
Hogan, 21, is contracted until the end of next season and the club has high hopes the gun key forward will remain at the club beyond 2017.
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