After a brief chat with Melbourne officials early in the week leading up to the draft, the prodigiously-talented teen had been told to expect a call on Thursday should he be the Dees' top pick.
"Barry (Prendergast) came around on Monday night and said he might let us know on Thursday," Watts said at Telstra Dome on Saturday morning.
"When no call came on Thursday I got a bit worried."
While that call might not have come, a meeting with Melbourne officials – including coach Dean Bailey – the following day guaranteed the Sandringham Dragons forward need not worry about an anxious wait on draft morning.
The AIS-AFL Academy graduate is thrilled he gets to stay in his home city, with the prospect of packing his bags for the other side of the country looming large had the Dees overlooked him.
Now he will is likely to be the face of the club in its bid to re-build both on and off the field, although the fresh-faced star says he is just one of a batch of promising youngsters set to tread a new path under Bailey.
"I guess that's the thing with Melbourne, it's such an exciting young list and we're all about that age – the young guys like Jack Grimes and Cale Morton and Nathan Jones and those types of guys," Watts said.
"It's really exciting to know that they're at the club already. Then along with the experienced players like James McDonald, Cam Bruce and Russell Robertson.
"It's going to be a great journey."
While thrilled to be a Demon his selection was obviously no great surprise. Perhaps what gave the Brighton Grammar student as much of a kick as his top billing was seeing who would join him in the red and blue.
"I sort of knew that last night that I was going to be called out, so I was more excited afterwards waiting for my mates to get called out," Watts said.
Along with other early draft picks, Watts was taken out for interviews just before the start of the second round, but he said he managed a sneak peak at the selection board.
" I saw my good mate Bleasey (Sam Blease), who's been picked up by the Dees as well, so it's just going to be sensational.
"James Strauss as well went at 19 and I played with both of them this year with the Vic Metro U18s … I just can't believe it."
The hustle and bustle of draft morning over, Watts is looking forward to a quiet celebration with his former coaches as well as many of the players he has played both with and against in recent years.
And he is looking forward to getting down to business after what he admits has been a frenetic build-up to the one of the most scrutinised days on the footy calendar.
"The wait, it's just unbelievable," he said.
"From draft camp until now it's been about two months almost … and to only find out [where I was heading] last night as well …
"So now it's just a relief. I know the club I'm at, I know what I have to do and I just can't wait to get in and try to make a positive influence on the team."
