WATTS JOINS POWER: DEMONS PAYING TO SEE THE BACK OF JACK

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 yesterday laid bare by the club’s decision to accept pick 31 from the Power and also tip in some of his salary of about $500,000.

Last Friday it was revealed he had chosen the Power, despite interest from Geelong and Sydney.

Watts formalised that decision yesterday before a deal was swiftly agreed by Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

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

The 26-year-old had another year to run on his contract with the Demons and did not want to leave the club.

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 has not been at the level expected of a player with his experience,” Mahoney said.

Watts follows a big-name migration to the Power, 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 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.”