Despite an aggressive post-season recruiting campaign in which they landed three players, Port Adelaide’s salary cap position in 2018 has the club positioned to snare another significant player.

The Power are understood to be among the top four clubs in the AFL for space in the salary cap, based on the AFL estimates for 2018 player payments – a remarkable outcome given they have acquired free agents Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop and traded for Jack Watts, while adding a further three seasoned recruits.

How new Port Adelaide (and former Melbourne) player Jack Watts is pictured in his new colours. Credit:Port Adelaide Football Club

The Power have created space in their total player payments in 2018 and, based on the amount available, would have the scope to bring in a player of Rockliff’s ilk.

Rockliff crossed from the Lions as a free agent on a four-year deal worth close to $2.8 million. Motlop, too, was handed a four-year deal by the Power on close to $550,000 a season – and controversially earned his old club, Geelong, an end-of-first-round draft pick as compensation.

Port also recruited Lindsay Thomas from North Melbourne, Gold Coast’s Trent McKenzie and ex-Demons captain Jack Trengove for a total haul of six seasoned players.