Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones believes maligned forward Jack Watts has done enough to earn a spot in the Demons' round one side.
Watts spent a good part of the summer in new coach Simon Goodwin's doghouse and wasn't picked in the club's first two pre-season clashes after he failed to meet selection criteria.
The club has been careful not to go into the detail about how Watts drew the ire of his coach and teammates.
But it has become apparent questions were asked about the 25-year-old's focus and desire to improve after he returned from the off-season break.
"I was disappointed (and) 100 per cent I told him that," Jones told Fox Footy on Monday night.
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"The players are held accountable for the condition that they come back in and the standard that they play at.
"In Jack's case he's working through those (things). It wasn't a drastic drop off.
"The positive is that our footy club has improved as a whole ... there's pressure for spots and you've got to be really (switched on).
"I guess in the past we've probably seen guys could be at 90 per cent and still potentially get a game.
"(But) we've given him the opportunity to prove himself."
Watts played in the club's final pre-season hitout against West Coast and kicked two goals in a VFL practice match for Casey on Sunday.
"I think he will play in round one," Jones said.
"I think he's the most maligned and interrogated player in the competition in terms of his performances over his career, which has been quite unfair.
"But from my point of view Jack has accepted the reasons he didn't play early on in the (pre-season series) and I think if you (asked him) he'd be able to articulate that."
Watts has played 137 games since he was taken first overall at the 2008 draft and is widely viewed to have played the best season of his career in 2016.
Melbourne open their 2017 premiership campaign against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
