THE DEMONS face an anxious wait on Ricky Petterd, after the influential forward suffered what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury in Saturday's loss to North Melbourne.

Petterd left Etihad Stadium late in the game and will have scans on Sunday to determine the extent of the damage.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said his side squandered the chance to record its fourth consecutive win. The Dees trailed by 46 points early in the third term but kicked six unanswered goals to cut the gap to just 14 points at the final change.

“The disappointing thing in that last quarter was they kicked the first two goals,” Bailey said after the match.

“I mean the game was there - we had an opportunity to start really hard in the last quarter and get on the front foot.

“In the first four or five minutes in the final quarter we would have been risk-taking (and) kicking the ball more in the corridor.
 
“If you don’t get off to a good start - teams make you pay.”

Petterd's injury could open the door for Jack Watts to play his first game for the Dees in season 2010.

But Bailey remained tight-lipped on when the key forward will return to the senior ranks.

“Jack has to play well at Casey. When his form is warrant we’ll pick him,” he said.

“He is going to have to play some good footy at Casey, train well and then we will consider him for selection.”

The Dees face a tough round-seven encounter against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night at the MCG.

“When we have been beaten the way we have they are going to be disappointed,” Bailey said.

“We have to get back on track - we’ve got a massive game next Friday night against the Bulldogs so like the game demands you move on pretty quickly.”