AFTER dropping No.1 draft pick Jack Watts to the VFL, Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said the youngster's progress was not yet a concern.
Neeld said it that while it was a good effort for the 21-year-old to have played 42 consecutive senior games, a lack of form had cost the 2008 top pick his spot.
He said Watts doesn't lack hunger but needs to work on his game at the lower level and improve in certain areas to earn a senior recall.
According to the coach, Watts is well aware which areas of his game need to improve and is working hard to develop them.
"He's receptive to it," said Neeld. "We've had some really good chats, productive chats during the week. He's on the training track confronting the things we want him to confront and we will see how he goes at VFL level."
Recruited to play as a key forward in 2008, Neeld gave an insight into the type of player he sees Watts developing into as he progresses under his tutelage.
"Jack has scope to play in a number of positions. He's tall enough to play as a key forward there is no doubting that," said Neeld.
"Can we put some muscle mass on him to enable him to wrestle with those big defenders? Yeah, I think we can. He has also got that athletic ability and agility to play through the midfield, which is hard to match up on so I think he'll spend his career being able to play in a number of positions."
Watts will play in the midfield tomorrow for the Casey Scorpions.
Neeld also made light of the constant references to Watts as a former No.1 draft pick saying the fact he was a high selection did not enter into the equation.
"Inside the footy club, when I sit down with Jack Watts I don't say, 'listen Jack, former No.1 draft pick, let's have this conversation'," said Neeld.
Of course, before Neeld arrived, Melbourne was quite happy to pump up his future prospects based on the fact he was a high pick. But that is yesterday's news.
Right now, Neeld is embarking on making Watts the player the club needs.
At times the coach seems like a horse trainer trying to get the best out of a well bred prospect: the more he sees of him the better he understands what makes him tick.
"Jack Watts is 196 centimetres and is 21 years of age," the coach said. "He can play multiple roles. We want him to play this way, and he has a bit of improvement to do that."
Much of tomorrow's focus at Simonds Stadium in Geelong will be on players appearing for the Casey Scorpions alongside Watts in the curtain raiser.
Liam Jurrah is set to make his comeback through the VFL after being sidelined through a wrist injury and then being charged in Alice Springs for an alleged assault in March.
Neeld said the 23-year-old was ready to play, with the coach hopeful he would play well enough to come under consideration for AFL selection.
Neeld conceded Jurrah, who has averaged 2.3 goals a game in his 35-game career, would be "helpful" up forward if he can find some form.
Youngster Jack Viney - son of club champion Todd - will make his debut in the VFL. Viney, likely to be drafted in November, has been given special permission to play for the Casey Scorpions this week.
Meanwhile veteran Brad Green remains a week away after having wire removed on Wednesday from the finger he dislocated three weeks ago.
One player who has emerged as a strong prospect at senior level is Tom McDonald, who was No.53 selection at the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
After doing a good job on Saints' star Nick Riewoldt last week he will be thrown another big challenge this week against Geelong. However Neeld would not say who McDonald was likely to play on.
"They have got some reasonable forwards," said Neeld. "They have got [James] Podsiadly, [Tom] Hawkins, young Mitch Brown. He'll rotate through the three of them."
He will be just one player facing the prospect of a big challenge against the defending premier, Geelong.
Neeld said it was fairly hard to pinpoint a weakness among the Cats but said the players will head into the game believing they can win it.
"We'll just give it our best shot, and have a go and see how the young kids go I reckon," said Neeld.
