Amid much angst from Melbourne supporters, the Demons traded Watts, the former 2008 No.1 pick, to the Power in exchange for selection 31 in next month's national draft.

The Demons lost patience with Watts, in terms of his preparation off the field and what he was delivering on it. They wanted greater and more consistent on-field input, where Watts had proven, in bursts, he could influence results, either as a forward or pushing up the ground. But his patchy form late last season, having returned from a hamstring strain, persuaded the Demons it was time to make a tough call.

Watts had been sought by Geelong where it's understood he would have been slated to have a major role up forward. However, the Cats did not wish to trade selection 22 for him.

With the Power, he can slot in alongside imposing full-forward Charlie Dixon and match-winners Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard.

"That was probably one of the attractions. I am not expected to play as that big, key forward which is what I struggled a little bit with during my time at Melbourne, where I had to play as that big key," Watts said.

"I found it pretty tough. They [Port] want me to use my strength and help out the big fella, in Charlie, and a few of the others up forward and give them some pretty easy looks."

Watts had been one of the Demons' key focal points alongside Jesse Hogan, the latter having endured an emotional 2017 campaign where he battled cancer and dealt with the death of his father.

Watts said "football was not the be all and end all" of his life but was "pretty proud" of how he had handled himself in recent weeks since he was put on the trade table.

"Initially it was a big shock and a bit disappointing and frustrating. You go through a range of emotions in those first couple of days but once I got my head around it, I've been really positive about the whole experience," he said.

"I think [there are] only good things to come really in the next few years."

He suggested the Demons had wanted to axe him because of his style of play, the general perception of him and the fact he had been a part of the club's "dark days" for much of the past decade.

The news that Melbourne are paying some of Watts' salary at Port Adelaide caused some controversy after Demons football manager Josh Mahoney spoke on radio about the trade to Port Adelaide but the payment is understood to be minimal.

The Demons have agreed to cover the gap between what Melbourne had agreed to pay Watts when he signed a three-year deal that began in 2017 and the contract Port Adelaide offered the 26-year-old during this trade period.

That is a common practice for players switching clubs while in contract (Watts still had two years to run on his deal at Melbourne) and is not expected to make a significant dint in Melbourne's salary cap.

Watts had also met with the Sydney Swans, having been told post-season to assess his options. He finished 21st in the Demons' best-and-fairest count. He had finished a career-high fifth last year but did not deliver what the Demons had wanted through pre-season training, to the point he was overlooked for the opening two JLT Community Series games.

He began the home-and-away campaign strongly, booting 13 goals in the opening seven rounds, but did not regain his groove after the hamstring tear.

Watts insisted he had no issues with Demons coach Simon Goodwin.

"We had a good chat at the best and fairest and I've said all along I get on really well with Goody," Watts said.

"Obviously, it hasn't quite worked out in the football sense but I'm sure we'll stay in touch and, after my career's finished, we'll sit down and have a few beers and get along really well."

Watts played 153 games for the Demons and booted 143 goals.