MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has confirmed debutant and last year's No.1 draft pick Jack Watts will line up for the Demons in the next round against Essendon at Docklands.

Watts played his first AFL match against Collingwood in the traditional Queen's Birthday clash at the MCG on Monday, finishing with eight disposals.

Bailey said unless anything untoward happens between now and June 19, when Melbourne plays its only Friday night match of the season, Watts would play his second AFL match against the Bombers.

"I wouldn't think that we'd seriously consider dropping him," Bailey said post-match after Melbourne's 66-point loss to the Magpies.

"I think he'll play the next game, unless he gets injured or something else happens in between."

Bailey said Watts showed enough in his first hit-out.

"It's just good that Jack's played a game and … got it out of the way, so he can look forward to his next game," he said.

"He'll learn from today and he'll understand the speed and the pace of the game, as most players do after their first game.

"He was OK, but it was always going to be a tough job for him to come out and play his first game."

Bailey said Watts handled the enormous build-up with aplomb after the Demons announced he would be playing last Wednesday.

"Jack's a pretty level-headed kid, so he's got a game out of the way and two hours under his belt. I'm sure he'll learn from some of things from watching the vision again," he said.

"He's a learner and he's an astute understander of the game, so I'm sure the next game he plays, he'll get a better feel for the game."

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