MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld says he can find plenty of positives when assessing the year of 20-year-old co-captain Jack Trengove.

Trengove's game has been scrutinised after a slow start to the No.2 draft pick's third season of AFL football.

While outsiders suspect there is a link between Trengove's form and the responsibility he has assumed as co-captain of the club, Melbourne has no dramas with his progress.

When asked to assess the player's form, Neeld pointed to a range of internal measurements that indicated Trengove was tracking reasonably well. 

"Jack sits number five for disposals - he can certainly increase that - he sits second in the club for tackles, he leads our one percent count, and he is also second on our GPS rating so that stuff says he is working particularly hard," Neeld said.

While he admits there is plenty of room for improvement in the young midfielder, Neeld is taking a long-term view with Trengove.

Trengove finished fifth in the club's best and fairest in 2011 and is getting a rounded education under Neeld.

Neeld has been impressed with the recent form of another high draft pick, Jack Watts, who has excelled since being moved to a defensive role in the past fortnight. His ball use has been exceptional and he has relished in the role as a floating defender.

However, the coach wasn't getting carried away. "Jack had been working really hard during the week [so] it's good to see some of that pay off," Neeld said. We want that to turn into three consecutive good games and then build from there."

Neeld said he thought Watts had a long-term future as a defender, indicating that he will persist with playing him down back. 

He is also comfortable with Mitch Clark supporting Mark Jamar on Saturday night in the ruck against the Bombers' in-form duo Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ryder.

"Mark [Jamar] has been in really good nick from a hit-out point of view so we are confident he can compete in that area and we have also been pleased with Mitch Clark's efforts when he goes into the ruck," Neeld said. "He just gives us something a little bit different, so that is the way we have chosen to go."

Neeld also had no hesitation in selecting Colin Sylvia despite the enigmatic forward not being able to play a VFL game after being dropped for the round nine clash against Carlton.

"Col's got AFL-elite strength, elite speed and elite endurance and that is why he is in the side," Neeld said. "[He] had a couple of performances that he needs to improve on but he is aware of that."