Melbourne coach Dean Bailey is convinced young key forward Jack Watts will not only cope with the pressure that comes with being the AFL's latest No.1 draft pick but also with the responsibility of filling the giant shoes left by the retired David Neitz.
As expected the Demons claimed the 17-year-old, 196cm key forward with the prized first pick in Saturday's national draft although given that Watts will be completing Year 12 at Brighton Grammar next year it remains to be seen what short-term impact he will have on this year's wooden spooners.
But long-term the Demons definitely see the strong-marking teenager as the replacement for Neitz, who retired this year having broken virtually every record at the AFL's oldest club.
As if entering the AFL as the number one pick is not pressure enough for a 17-year-old but Watts will also have to fill the shoes of a man who ended his career as not only the club's games' record holder (306 matches) but also the goals' record holder (631) and was also Melbourne's longest ever serving captain.
However Bailey is confident Watts will handle the pressure and live up to the weight of expectation that will now be on him.
"The number one pick is a huge responsibility for Jack and he will carry it because he is a very mature young man who I think thrives on that sort of challenge," Bailey said.
But Bailey made it clear the club viewed Watts as the long-term replacement for Neitz and it was his ability to play as a key forward plus the fact that he was a local boy and thus is not subject to the 'go home factor' that saw the Demons take him at pick one ahead of Western Australian giant Nicholas Naitanui, who was taken by the Eagles at pick two.
"There wasn't a hell of a lot between the two picks and it’s disappointing West Coast got Naitanui because he is a very talented player," Bailey said.
"But for us when you have someone like David Neitz retire - an absolute legend of the club - and with Jack being a guy that can play forward and can mark and kick a goal and also with him being a Melbourne boy, when you add all that up it got him over the line (as pick one)."
Watts, who was told by Melbourne on Friday night that he would be the first pick in