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 Thursday night’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 AFL career.
But after a promising six-goal 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.
The Thursday night 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 tomorrow night, 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.
“No player is any different – you have to play your role.”
Thomas will come in for Jake Neade and defender Jack Hombsch replaces Tom Jonas, who has a hamstring injury.
Jonas has been in strong form and Hinkley expects he will miss one to three weeks.
The backman played out last Friday night after suffering the injury early in the match, but the hamstring remains sore.