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“Port Adelaide Make Final Call on List Spot as Victorian Young Gun Secures AFL Dream”
Port Adelaide have officially locked in their final list spot, with Victorian teenager Josh Lai winning the battle over North Melbourne VFL star Jack Watkins ahead of Friday’s Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) deadline.
The Power had both players competing for the single vacancy at Alberton, with Watkins first receiving an invite in November before Lai joined the program just before Christmas.
Watkins, a former teammate of Port Adelaide star Zak Butters, turned heads with his creative play in the forward half and even unofficially won the club’s mid-December time trial. But in the end, it was 19-year-old Lai who did enough to convince the club he was the right choice.
Lai’s selection comes off the back of a standout year with Cheltenham in the Southern Football Netball League, where he dominated the Division 1 grand final and earned best-on-ground honors.
Port Adelaide had kept one rookie list spot open since November, opting to wait until the SSP deadline before making their final call. The decision to sign Lai officially completes the club’s list for the season ahead.
Meanwhile, the Power have opted not to place injured key forward Todd Marshall on the inactive list, leaving open the possibility that the 26-year-old could return to action later this year despite his ruptured Achilles tendon.
With the SSP deadline looming, several other clubs—including Carlton, West Coast, Essendon, and the Western Bulldogs—are still weighing up their final list decisions.
Port Adelaide’s choice has been made—and a new young gun is ready to make his mark.
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