Seemingly lost amidst the hoopla surrounding Port Adelaide’s trade period acquisitions is whether the Jack Watts-Port Adelaide Power union is viable for both parties.
We all know the potential upside of the trade for the Power. After all, Watts is only one injury-hampered year removed from the breakout season of his career in which he kicked 38 goals, finished fifth in the Demons’ best and fairest, and reminded everyone why the Demons parted with that number one pick.
At his best, he is a silky mover, can play quarterback with his elite kicking, has a keen eye for goal and can pinch hit in the ruck.
And yet apart from 2016, which just happened to be a contract year, Watts has consistently flattered to deceive throughout his now nine-year AFL career. The fact that he was essentially called out, and ultimately let go for next to nothing – and with the Dees agreeing to pick up part of his salary – by a club that had invested so much in him leaves a stain that the Power will do very well to remove.
Having said that, Port taking a flyer on an unfulfilled talent like Watts in isolation would not ordinarily present a huge risk for the club. The Power would be hoping that a new interstate environment will be the perfect tonic for Watts’ stalled career.
But when taken together with the Power’s other newbies – the similarly talented but equally frustrating Steven Motlop and the perceived toxic Tom Rockliff – the outcome of the Watts’ Power story suddenly becomes central to the success of Port’s high stakes offseason moves.
Viewed through this lens, post-trade period predictions of the 2018 premiership cup being paraded around Alberton Oval should be taken with more than a pinch of salt.
The risks posed for Port aside, no one seems to be discussing the fact the Power may well represent the worst fit for Watts in the AFL (even if it sounds like Port was ultimately his lone suitor).
This is particularly pertinent given the fact Jack had only just escaped a bad nine-year marriage with the Demons.
It wasn’t Jack’s fault that the Demons selected him as the number one pick.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
It was a terrible fit from the start. A blond haired, ex-Brighton Grammar boy with a game built more on guile than grit finds himself as the great white hope (and inevitable lightning rod) of a blue-blooded soft touch.
After enduring what essentially amounted to an almost decade-long character assassination, the opportunity finally presented itself for Jack to revive his spluttering AFL career in pastures anew.
The chance to nestle in relative anonymity among bigger names on a flank for the Swans or the Cats made all the sense in the world for a player who had been under a constant searing spotlight since his debut.
Instead, Watts finds himself at arguably the most working-class, no-frills club in the country, and a world away from the comfortable surrounds of his previous footballing homes in Brighton and Jolimont.
It’s often been said that football does not mean everything to Watts. The problem is that he is heading to a club where football means absolutely everything to its fans.
One can only imagine how quickly the home fans will turn if the Power is failing to meet expectations and there is even a hint that Watts is not fully committed to the contest.
Not only that but there is also a serious question mark as to how Jack, a rumoured party boy, will adapt to the relatively less salubrious after-dark surrounds of Adelaide’s Rundle Mall.
Let’s hope he gets a tattoo ahead of Round 1 because he’s going to need one where he’s headed.
In any event, whether or not the relationship between these seemingly awkward dance partners can bear fruit, and perhaps even a premiership cup, it promises to be one of the more interesting subplots of next season.
BillyW
Roar Rookie
This feels like the ramblings of a green eyed monster infected harlequin. Maybe Jacks interest levels over his journey can be more directly linked to the culture of the environment in which his career thus far has been fostered. I suspect his attitude will improve dramatically now embraced by a club that looks to reap the rewards of winning as opposed to the consolation prizes dolled out to the biggest losers. If,however, the stains of failures past cannot be removed he has cost us little....if he remains inconsistent we can allege that the Gracious Dees have picked up the tab for his below average games and we have only foot the bill for the rest! May the weight of expectation once again turn the Rising Demons into mere mortals clambering for the hole to which they briefly crawled from ...... Bring on 2018....and Carn Port!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Goodness gracious - well, they'll want to have some good water pressure going on with their hoses to reach me in up in the members reserve, I doubt even several trays of frothies would get them over the line
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Lord Dunsborough, what a wonderful piece. The Port boys will be waiting to give you a welcome reception I'm sure if they meet your demons in the 2018 GF, potentially similar to when Barry Mackenzie put out the fire in England all those years ago.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
A hard hitting piece there Jump Ball – and welcome to the AFL tab. Hopefully you find a better reception than you did from those blowhards over on the football tab. Now, let’s talk turkey. Quite a salvo you’ve fired at the Grand Old Flag and our former prodigal son Jack Watts. I see you’ve adroitly identified that young Watts coincidentally delivered his finest season when his contract was coming up for renewal. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who works in any sort of contract based employment, or any legal firm where the senior partners have short term sommelier related memory loss. Prudence and cynicism dictate that you keep an emergency reserve in the tank to put in a final sprint to the line, and Watts has been in the system suckling on the MCC paps long enough to know when to up the ante and make his pitch for further sustenance. Unfortunately for this erstwhile Brighton Grammar alumnus, there’s only so far the old school tie will take you in this city, and now, faced with either ignominous retirement or the coalface at Alberton, he’s opted to trade his silver spoon for a blue collar and roll his sleeves up for some actual work. I do feel you are unfair in linking Watts success with that of Motflop and Rockliffe – if Port Adelaide chooses to spend its draft bounty with all the sense of an ASC dockworker who’s been given a fat redundancy payout down at Osborne then surely Watts can’t be lumbered in with Motlop deciding his whiteboard magnet should be affixed to the front bar, or Rockliff deciding to resume hostilities with Voss and that spiv Polec Moreover, Watts inherent class and soft touch will stand him in stark contrast to the midfield abbatoir workers preferred by Port Adelaide – even a disinterested Watts shank stands a better chance of landing lace out in a forward’s palms than any offerings from James Toumpas or Brad Ebert, no matter how intently they stare at the Sherrin before mutilating it. The Alberton establishment should instead reflect on the calibre of player they’re attracting – a much maligned ball magnet from the consistently worst team in the AFL this decade, a much maligned beer magnet booted out from a club with the best culture in the competition, and a blue blood jettisoned from a team with that much spare dosh we’re prepared to pay for him to play against us. Does this sound like a club attracting the best and brightest talent in the AFL? I do not think so. Port Adelaide will be lucky to make the 18 next season, and the reasons for their failure will, as always, extend far beyond Jack Watts and his interest or disinterest. But that sort of scapegoating and diversionary tactics would be par for the course for a club whose politics are spelt out by a bald headed buffoon on Sunrise and whose reception in China was the most disinterested since Earl Macartney approached the imperial throne in 1793.
The Finger
Guest
There won’t be any tolerance at Port for Jack having less than 100% commitment each and every week. Melbourne were probably too kind..even.continuing with them paying part of Watt’s salary at Port! Go figure....! He’s an elite talent - it will be interesting to see how he goes. I’d rather see Jack playing anywhere than retiring prematurely with an ‘if only...’ reputation, when he can give so much more. Even if it is at Port Adelaide....
Gyfox
Guest
A Grammar boy at Port Adelaide............perfect for the new destination club. He chose playing in Shanghai over Alice Springs
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Watts & Power, South Australia’s energy problems. So much material to work with here.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
Agree. I was going to make the same comment.
AD
Guest
Watts is basically Port's Justin Westhoff replacement. Tall forward who can pinch-hit in ruck or down back. He won't be a star and doesn't need to be given they only gave up peanuts to recruit him.
Pelican
Guest
Its a risk for both club and player but worth a roll of the dice. The fit may not be perfect for him but hey what other choice does he have. He is getting older and may not feel the need for Kings Cross type distractions any more. A red wine at Charlie Dixons house might be what he's looking for now days. Also Ken Hinkley is a very calm opperator who is not prone to rash decisions and has a good record at developing talent and retaining it. Simon Goodwin is still trying too prove he is up to it and could have been a bit unstable for Jack to thrive there. I hope for Jack and Ports sake he is successful. I just love the irony of Port picking up Watts after what Gary Lyon said a couple of years ago. It was along the lines of 'No parent would ever want there kid to be drafted to Port'. Well done to Port for turning that around and in a short space of time. It has helped by not having the SANFL sabotaging them from within. The Port license being taken off the SANFL saved the club from being steered into the rocks on purpose. They were at the time coming up with names for the new Crows style club to be based in the south of Adelaide. Suck it up Gary Lyon and the SANFL. Port have become a destination club despite you. Welcome to the new arrivals and good luck too Port for having a crack. You don't win without taking a risk.
Larry1950
Guest
And that's before the prickly Tom Rockliff gets most of his teammates offside like he did in 2016 at the lions. It's ok to be demanding of excellence but a senior player needs to understand there are ways and means of lifting less experienced team mates.