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PORT Adelaide skipper Travis Boak played a vital role in the Power luring Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop and Jack Watts to Alberton.

Boak was in constant dialogue with the trio as they weighed up their futures amid interest from rival clubs.

He also hosted Watts at his home and caught up with Rockliff in Brisbane while he was in Queensland on a surfing holiday.

The Power made strong pitches to all three, focusing on what they could each bring to the team.

Watts was extremely impressed with the Power, with not only how he could fit into their system, but with the club as a whole.

It helped there was a familiar face in the meeting; he knew Power development coach Aaron Greaves from when he was an assistant with the Demons from 2012-13.

After the meeting, Watts spent time at Boak's home along with several Power players.

The former No.1 draft pick was the last piece of the puzzle.

It wasn't until the Demons publicly made it known he was free to explore his options at the end of the season that the Power approached Watts' manager, Paul Connors.

The Power's list management team knew at the end of last year they needed to target a couple of quality free agents to bolster their list.

They decided to move up in last year's NAB AFL Draft, allowing them to nab Sam Powell-Pepper, Todd Marshall, Joe Atley and Willem Drew.

It also meant their options in the 2017 draft were going to be limited, thus free agency was an enticing path.

Finding the ball hasn't been the issue for the Power – it's been how they finish when going forward that has held them back from being a genuine premiership contender.

The round seven loss to West Coast – where the Power had 68 inside 50s to 39 – was the perfect example of their struggles going into attack.

Rockliff will share time between the midfield and forward line, Motlop adds pace on the outside and Watts is one of the most efficient players in the League when going inside the 50m arc.

Midway through the year, the Power made enquiries about Rockliff and Motlop.

Rockliff, 27, hasn't played a final in his 154 games and nine seasons with the Brisbane Lions.

Going to a club that could help him have on-field success was important.

The Power's form in the second half of the season in particular, and the opportunity to play with the core group of Boak, Robbie Gray, Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines, Paddy Ryder and Charlie Dixon were major selling points.

Motlop visited Gold Coast and Adelaide before deciding to join the Power, following older brother Daniel and cousin Marlon.

Rockliff was the first deal done, officially joining the Power on October 11 when the Lions declined to match the restricted free agent's offer.

Two days later, Motlop nominated the Power as his club of choice.

Then on October 18, the Power handed over pick 31 in this year's draft in exchange for Watts.

In the space of a week, the Power added 442 games of experience, and all they had to give up was a second-round selection.