Watts loses Power
CAMERON Bancroft’s pain continues to be Matt Renshaw’s gain, with the Queensland opener extending his formidable first- class form to help Somerset claim top spot on the county championship table.
Bancroft was set to spend winter in England with Somerset, but the county voided his contract amid the fallout of the cheating scandal.
Somerset signed Renshaw as a last- minute replacement. It’s proven a wise decision for both parties. Renshaw produced knocks of 106 and 61 during his most recent outing, top- scoring in both innings of a six- wicket win over Nottinghamshire.
Renshaw has now scored more first- class runs than any other batsman in the world this year, tallying 1139 at 59.94. The 22- year- old is fully expected to hold on to his spot in Australia’s Test side and has bolstered his bid to play in next year’s Ashes. NEW club, same problem – halfway through his debut season at Port Adelaide, star recruit Jack Watts is out of the AFL side because of form.
The Power dropped the high- profile recruit for tonight’s home clash with the Western Bulldogs.
After nine up- and- down seasons at Melbourne, the 2008 No. 1 draft pick went to the Power to re- boot his career.
But after a promising sixgoal pre- season game against Adelaide, the key forward has managed only 13 goals in 11 matches. He went scoreless in Friday’s big win over Richmond, with just 12 disposals and two marks.
“Jack knows his form hasn’t been at the level he would like it to be and he understands the reasons for it,” said Power coach Ken Hinkley. “He needs to go back and play well. If he plays well, he will find a way back in. It is not different to any player – that is what Lindsay Thomas has done.”
The move to Alberton is seen as a fresh start for Watts after playing 153 games for the Demons.
Last year, he featured in 16 senior games, missing four because of a hamstring injury and then being dropped for rounds 21 and 22 as the Demons fell agonisingly short of the top eight.
Thomas is also at his second club, joining the Power this season on their rookie list after North Melbourne had delisted him.
Tonight’s match at Adelaide Oval will be the small forward’s second senior game this season.
Watts was dropped for teenager Todd Marshall, who was given compassionate leave in April after his father died.
“Marshall and Watts are not dissimilar as talls,” Hinkley said. “We were a bit more worried about the extra tall for ( tonight), but it also is about the balance going forward. We still want Jack as part of our side, we brought him here to help us and he will still help us a lot.”
Meanwhile, the AFL future of Western Bulldogs midfielder Liam Picken has become clouded once again as he continues to struggle with concussion symptoms.
The 31- year- old hasn’t played since suffering a heavy head knock in pre- season, but had been progressing toward a return to the field.
The premiership player went through running drills at Whitten Oval yesterday, but coach Luke Beveridge believes it is unlikely he will play again this year.