Port Adelaide will reportedly hand North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins the chance to train at Alberton this pre-season as a Supplemental Selection Period prospect.
Watkins has led the Roos' reserves the past two years and has won best and fairest honours at Arden Street in both campaigns, taking out the 2024 title ahead of AFL-listed veteran Hugh Greenwood.
The 23-year-old played 18 games at the state league level this year, averaging 24.9 disposals, 4.4 tackles and 4.8 clearances per game while contributing nine goals for the season.
Watkins represented the VFL in April when the representative side met with its SANFL counterpart during Gather Round and would end a strong 2024 campaign in the VFL Team of the Year - selected at half-forward.
The 178cm midfielder is now set to return to South Australia this summer, with the Power offering Watkins a train-on spot for the SSP, perย News Corp.
Watkins will have the chance to earn an AFL list spot with Port Adelaide following the AFL Draft period, with the SSP often running until mid-February.
Port Adelaide has already welcomed four players for the 2025 season, with Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards and Rory Atkins arriving through the trade period. Jacob Moss has joined as a category B rookie following a promising basketball career.
The club opened further list spots with the departures of Tom Clureyย (delisted),ย Charlie Dixonย (retired),ย Francis Evansย (delisted),ย Dan Houstonย (Collingwood Magpies),ย Kyle Marshallย (delisted),ย Tom McCallumย (delisted),ย Trent McKenzieย (retired),ย Quinton Narkle (delisted) and Thomas Scully (delisted).
An unsuccessful training stint with the Power could see Watkins remain with the club as a SANFL acquisition, with the league permitting new signing opportunities for Port Adelaide and Adelaide's SANFL programs.
The Power have already made waves this off-season on the open market, adding Central Districts star and former Gold Coast-listed flanker Jez McLennan to their SANFL list for next season.
The signing comes after a difficult year for the Magpies, who managed just four wins from 18 games to claim the wooden spoon with a percentage of 40.28%.
