THE turbulent season of Melbourne's No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts is over. Watts has recovered from recent thumb and groin issues, but after a month on the sidelines the Demons have decided against playing him at VFL or AFL level until next year.

Instead, he will concentrate on his schooling at Brighton Grammar, with his VCE exams to finish in early November.

The club hopes to start its pre-season training on October 12, with Watts set to train intermittently for the first month.

Top-20 draftees Sam Blease (broken leg) and James Strauss (shoulder reconstruction) will also be close to resuming by then.

The Demons plan to start their pre-season a day earlier than last year provided 75 per cent of the players agree, with their extra leave to be fed out in subsequent months.

"It has been presented to the leadership group and, in turn, they have taken it to the AFLPA," Melbourne football manager Craig Notman said yesterday.

Watts, 18, played three senior games amid a torrent of discussion about his performances.

"He has had a few niggles and he has recovered from those, and with two games to go, having missed four weeks, the decision was made to allow him to concentrate on his school and to build on his fitness work," Notman said.

"His primary focus is to get his exams done."

Ironically, the Dees promoted Watts for his debut against Collingwood on Queen's Birthday Monday, one day before a mid-year accounting exam.

There is nothing surpising about this ..well not to me. Some of us all bujt predicted he would be put away for year some weeks back as there is no point what so ever playing him at the moment.Exactly as article says...best he put school behind him , get stuck into preseason and come out swing next season.

If many care to cast their minds back to last year this is all but what the club said it was always going to do,, this was the deal they had with Jack and his parents.

Looking forward to seeing Watts what next year

There is nothing surpising about this ..well not to me. Some of us all bujt predicted he would be put away for year some weeks back as there is no point what so ever playing him at the moment.Exactly as article says...best he put school behind him , get stuck into preseason and come out swing next season.

If many care to cast their minds back to last year this is all but what the club said it was always going to do,, this was the deal they had with Jack and his parents.

Looking forward to seeing Watts what next year

Not only that, but a very astute supporter (with an equally astute source) informed us that Jack Watts would play no more than 4 games for the year, and was never going to.

The world might not be 'on fire' yet, but at least its on track!

Dissapointed wont get to see Jack again this year but there's plenty of time for him. Although again I would have liked to have seen him in the VFL finals. Looking forward to a forward line next year in round 1 of;

HF: Sylvia, Bate, Petterd

FF: Watts, Jurrah, Wonna

I'm not too fussed. He can get year 12 out of the way, hit the preseason hard and enter next year knowing what is needed from an AFL footballer. Also Scully should take a bit of the media heat off him.

I'm not too fussed. He can get year 12 out of the way, hit the preseason hard and enter next year knowing what is needed from an AFL footballer. Also Scully should take a bit of the media heat off him.

Agree. Maybe the 2nd pick as well. And Jurrah (the X file/factor).

Can't wait for what we all have to look forward to: -

Is there a Mulder in the draft perhaps?

Edited August 21, 200916 yr by High Tower

Yeah, was talking to his sister last night and she was saying he's just focusing on exams at the moment. Good lad.