Watts unsure over AFL draft nomination
Potential No.1 pick Jack Watts is unsure if he will nominate for this year's national draft by citing studies and leaving home as considerations delaying an AFL career.
In a possible blow to clubs looking for a young key forward, Watts said he wanted to concentrate on his Year 12 studies next year, and felt completing his schooling while finding his feet at an interstate club would be difficult.
That could be bad news for Fremantle and West Coast, who are 14th and 15th and a chance to land the first pick courtesy of the wooden spoon, or - if he nominates - could consider recruiting the Victorian with the second or third picks.
Watts, 17, only recently chose football over basketball as a future career path, but said he "loved" living at home in Melbourne and was no certainty to nominate this year.
"I really haven't thought about it the draft or where I'm going, I haven't even decided whether I'm nominating or not yet," he said.
"I'm lucky to have the opportunity to get into this position, but I'm not really looking too much into it.
"Obviously school is a massive (consideration).
"If you happened to get picked up by an interstate team and you're still doing year 12, it can cause a few problems, so that's a big concern of mine. That's about as far as I've thought about it really."
Watts has been touted as a possible top pick alongside Western Australia's Nicholas Naitanui.
But unlike his Victorian counterpart, Naitanui is looking forward to being recruited after being too young to nominate for last year's draft.
The ruck-forward is already attracting a large interest among the public, both at home in Perth and in Melbourne, where he is taking part in the under-18 national championships.
At 197cm, of Fijian appearance and sporting dreadlocks that give him a lampshade-like haircut, Naitanui is difficult not to notice.
"Walking through the streets in Melbourne everyone notices who you are so you have got to make sure you are doing the right thing," he said.
"A few people recognise you and sometimes I say I don't play football so I get a bit of a break, and I say I play basketball because I look like a basketballer."
Naitanui would also prefer to stay at home next year, but could face the same scenario as Watts, as he could be drafted by a club on the other side of the country, as Melbourne are currently last and the favourite to stay there.
"I will probably get homesick if I go somewhere else but then again I don't mind where I go because to get the opportunity to play at an AFL club is my main dream," he said.
Naitanui, already playing senior football with the WAFL with Swan Districts, felt he had coped well with the pressure that came with being a potential No.1 pick and being tagged as a saviour by fans of struggling clubs.
"As long as I keep my head on and concentrate on football I will be all right and try to be a role model to the younger kids coming through," he said.
"There has been a lot of speculation but I don't take much notice of it. I just want to keep playing footy and enjoying it."
WA and Vic Metro will on Wednesday play the final of the under-18 championships, as AFL club recruiters keep a keen watch for the next batch of draftees.
Players have until October to nominate for the draft, held in November.
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