FORMER Essendon great Tim Watson was full of praise of Port Adelaide’s 38-point win over Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking on Channel Seven’s Talking Footy, Watson said the results the Port coaching staff were getting out of the inexperienced group was a fantastic result for the football club.

“They are enormously talented,” Watson said.

“It’s worth reflecting how young they were at the weekend with that group of players.

“They had 12 players play fewer than 50 games at the weekend. Eight players played fewer than 10 games.

“I mean, that is a side of babies. That’s almost half your team that have played 10 games or less.”

The 57-year-old was particularly impressed by the Power’s game-plan and the ability to back-in their emerging players.

“That speaks volumes of the confidence Kenny has in this group of talented youngsters,” Watson said.

“I sometimes get back to the messaging from the coaches with young players.

“If you overcomplicate the game-plan with them, then they can look hesitant. They can look like they are lacking in confidence.”

Former Bulldog Luke Darcy believed it was a bold move to trade a number of established players during the 2018 trade period, but one that appears to be paying dividends.

“They went the other path and traded Chad Wingard out of the side,” Darcy said.

“Polec went across to North Melbourne, Pittard as well.

“They eyed off some young talent and they seem to be served really well by it.

“Another good win, and they sit inside the top eight at the moment. Strategically a good move it seems at the moment.”

Port has already had two NAB AFL Rising Star nominations across the first nine rounds of the competition, with Connor Rozee nominated in Round 3, followed by Xavier Duursma in Round 6.