http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/dees-top-pick-finally-emerges/20...
[quote]Dees' top pick finally emerges
MELBOURNE'S No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts showed glimpses of what he has to
offer for the Demons in his first football match for the season for the Casey
Scorpions reserves yesterday.
The high-flying 18-year-old from the Sandringham Dragons amassed 20
disposals and kicked a freakish goal in the first instalment of his path to
becoming a star at the Demons.
"I was pretty rusty. It was my first hit-out in seven months so I was
happy to get through the game," Watts told The Sunday Age.
"It's just good to play footy again after training for months and
months and months so to get out there, that's what I'm here for."
Melbourne development manager Kelly O'Donnell said Watts was impressive in
his first VFL outing, but expected the youngster to play at VFL senior level
next week before putting his hand up for an AFL debut.
"His second half was very good. He just had a bit of a run around. He
was pretty impressive. We'll wait to see how he pulls up and what the fitness
guys think of his progress," O'Donnell said.
Watts said he was adamant he could handle the expectations of the tag of
No. 1 draft pick with ease.
"There's obviously going to be expectations being the No. 1 draft pick
but I can't really do much about that," he said.
"I just have to stick to my own game and do what the coaches
require.".
There was a sense of urgency in the way Watts went about the second half
after a first half in which he managed just a handful of possessions.
"It's up to the coaches. I'm pretty confident that they will keep me
in the VFL for another few weeks and hopefully I can get up to the ones and
play some consistent footy for the Casey ones," Watts said.
"Basically they've just kept me out to get my body right and to stay
fit and get strong. It's been a really good pre-season and I've done
everything they required."
[/quote]
