Watts completes Port's trade off-season bonanza

Jack Watts’ nine year tenure at Melbourne has come to an end, with Port Adelaide agreeing to a trade with the Dees for the 26-year-old to head to Alberton.

The Power has given its second-round draft selection, Pick 31, to sign the former No.1 draft pick, who kicked 143 goals in his 153 games for the club.

Last week, SEN news breaker Sam McClure told SEN Breakfast that Watts "will be nominating the Port Adelaide Football Club as his preferred destination."

Watts has signed a three-year deal, and joins free agent signings Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop, as Port Adelaide looks to bolster a squad that was knocked out in the Elimination Final in 2017.

Melbourne general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney acknowledged the difficult nature of the decision.

“I would first like to thank Jack for his contribution to the Melbourne football club,” he told the club's website.

“He will always be welcomed back to the club as a Melbourne person and we wish him the very best for the future.

“At the end of the year, we had a conversation with Jack regarding his future at Melbourne where we spoke openly about what is best for him and the club.

“We agreed that we would look at our options and we feel this outcome is the best thing for Jack as an individual and that’s why both parties have agreed to the deal.

“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.

“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.”

Watts is looking forward to getting started with the Power.

“I want to thank all of the supporters and everyone at the Melbourne football club. The supporters have been tremendous to me over the years and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

“I have no hard feelings towards the club. I know it’s difficult to leave as I have always enjoyed playing for Melbourne but I think a clean break is the best thing for me and I’m looking forward to the next stage of my career.

“I also want to acknowledge and thank all of my teammates who have been awesome to play with. I know the club is on the right path and I wish the boys nothing but success in the future.”

Geelong was the other club that showed the most interest in securing the contratced forward, which included a tour of Simonds Stadium, but had been unwilling to give up an early draft pick to secure his services.

Watts also received interest from Sydney, however the Swans had very little room to move in their salary cap.

Former Melbourne best and fairest David Schwarz said despite the Demons wanting to push him out, he believes the pick the Dees will receive is too low, and said if Watts was in this year’s draft he would be a top 15 selection.

“I think 31 is well under. I would have thought a late first rounder, early second rounder is about right,” he said on The Run Home.

“I would have thought between 16 and 25 (was appropriate), I think 31 is too far back.

“(He would be) top 15 in this draft.”

In further trade news, Port Adelaide has let fringe midfielder Brendon Ah Chee depart for West Coast, along with a 2018 fourth round pick. The Power will receive a 2018 third round selection from the Eagles in return.

The 23-year-old managed only five games in 2017, taking his career total to 27, since making his debut in 2015, but did win Port Magpies best and fairest this season.