MELBOURNE'S Jack Watts has shrugged off any external criticism of his game, saying the opinions of his coach Mark Neeld and forwards coach Leigh Brown are the only ones that matter to him.

"The thing for me is listening to my coach … I'm sure there are many other people out there with many other opinions and that is fine. I'm fine with that," said Watts.

Speaking at Luna Park at Melbourne's Family Day the morning after his team defeated Collingwood by nine points in the second round of the NAB Cup, Watts was asked about critical comments made on radio by Mick Malthouse and Wayne Carey during the clash at Etihad Stadium.

"(I'm) just listening to what (the coach)) wants me to do and if I can perform that I'm happy," said Watts.

Although the comments noting an apparent lack of intensity in Watts' game were fairly innocuous they added to the pile of observations about Watts, one of the most heavily dissected players in the game.

Watts gathered seven touches in the four quarters and admitted he was "a bit quiet" but said he had played his role in both weeks. "I think my work rate is right up there, (even) if I'm not involved with the ball as much," said Watts.

After the game Neeld said he was happy with the 20-year-old, saying he trains hard and was working diligently to adjust to the role he was being asked to play. "I see Jack as a very talented young footballer who has played 40 games," said Neeld.

Watts is being asked to play as a deep forward but looks more comfortable on the move, winding up the ground. However he is still building his strength and can be expected to develop in the role as he grows in both confidence and physical stature.

"(Neeld) respects blokes playing their role and that's what I'm trying to do," Watts said.

He argues that it was a good thing the new coach had been hard on him early in the pre-season, and he had lifted his expectations and efforts over the summer in response.

"(He was) just trying to get the best out of me really," Watts said. "I'd be disappointed if he wasn't challenging me and asking more of me, so that was good early on. I think that got me through pre-season and left me in good stead for the year."

It's worth noting that after three seasons and at the same age as Watts, Carey had kicked 76 goals from 39 matches up forward in a team he took to the edge of the finals.

Watts has kicked 33 goals in 40 games playing forward, wing and in defence in a team far from finals and in an era when goals are harder to kick. Collingwood star Travis Cloke kicked 28 goals in his first 40 games, played between 2005 and 2007.

Watts is not fazed by the dissection of his game. "That is fine. I'm used to that by now, that is for sure," said Watts. "(I'll) take it on board and move on to next week."

Perhaps when he thinks of the reaction to commentators' observations, Watts could be reminded of the line of American comedian Danny Kaye, who said of a former girlfriend: "Her favourite position was beside herself and her favourite sport was jumping to conclusions".

That appears to now be what a key position number one draft pick needs to get used to through his first 50-odd games.