Port Adelaide veteran Jack Watts has today called time on his AFL career, effective immediately.
Watts was originally taken by the Demons with Pick 1 in the 2008 AFL Draft and played 152 games for the club before moving to Alberton at the end of 2017.
The 29-year has played 21 games for Port Adelaide but suffered a serious leg injury early last year that has kept him sidelined since.
Watts admitted that he has struggled to bounce from the injury both physically and mentally.
โI have been thinking long and hard about my future for a while and contemplating retirement,โ Watts told portadelaidefc.com.au.
โSince my injury, I feel my body has let me down and I have been struggling with the physical and mental requirements of getting back to the level of fitness thatโs required at AFL level.
โSpeaking with Ken (Hinkley) and Chris (Davies) and my manager in the last few weeks, it feels like the right decision for me to step away and look for new challenges in the next phase of my life.
โI feel lucky to have had 12 years in the game and while there have been some challenges, there have also been some amazing memories both at Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
โIโm so grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences footy has given me and the friendships I will take with me away from the game.
โIโm not sure what the future holds just yet but Iโm looking forward to some time away from the limelight.โ
Jack Watts has called time on his AFL career after 12 years at the elite level, effective immediately.
Go well in the next phase of life, Wattsy โค๏ธ#weareportadelaide https://t.co/eDx8RTJmr9
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) September 23, 2020
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley praised Watts for everything he bought to the club, both on and off the field.
โWe all know Jackโs football ability, and we would have liked to have seen him on the field a lot more for our club,โ Hinkley said.
โPeople might not realise just how important and loved he is around our playing group because of his character.
โJack always has a way of lifting everyoneโs spirits, even when things werenโt going so well for him in the last couple of years. Heโll be missed around the group.โ
Watts hangs up the boots with 174 AFL games and 161 goals to his name.
