Speaking after the Saints' 17-point loss against Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, Watters couldn't question his team's work ethic, but said he would continue to blood new players in an attempt to lift his team's skill level.
"I guess if you look at our side in its entirety it's wanting just for some polish. I can't question their work rate tonight" Watters said.
"Sean Dempster plays two, two-and-a-half quarters with a broken wrist. It's courageous and those sort of efforts were evident with many of our players tonight.
"Are we happy about losing a game of footy? Absolutely not. Did they try their guts out there tonight? Absolutely.
"(But) we'll continue to evolve our list … this isn't a new pathway. (We have already blooded) (Terry) Milera, (Arryn) Siposs, (Ahmed) Saad, (Rhys) Stanley and I guess over the next period of time we will unearth more players who will come into the side."
Watters was adamant he would weed out players who could not live up to his skill expectations.
"We can't accept the same mistakes, whether they be skill errors or efficiency," he said.
"So ultimately every player needs to be held accountable for your performance.
"And if you fail to deliver – and it's not a threat, it's just selection – someone will get an opportunity and they'll get a chance to actually come in and fulfil the role.
"We think we've got some players who are coming through that just need the right amount of time and I guess (to) come in in the right circumstances.
"And, like last year, we'll evolve those players through the group this year."
Watters was adamant the Saints could rebuild areas of their list while remaining competitive.
He also said the Saints' senior players would play a vital role in the rebuilding process.
"At the same time we need our senior players to actually bring our new players through, they're critical," Watters said.
"The performance of Nick Riewoldt tonight (was) just strong leadership."
Watters said Dempster had broken his wrist midway through the second quarter, but said the Saints would have to assess it "in the cold light of day" before knowing whether it would sideline him.
But Watters stressed the Saints only sent Dempster back onto the ground after the team's medical staff declared him fit.
"I don't want to get too caught up in the specifics other than he had broken a bone in his wrist," Watters said.
"He was still cleared, obviously. We wouldn't put a players back out there if he wasn't cleared from our doctor.
"There are minor fractures and severe fractures. It was taped and he was OK to play in the role that we had him in.
"Again we needed him out there, (but) there was no way that we would have a player out there if there was any potential long-term ramifications, so again we rely heavily on our doctor."
Nick Bowen is a reporter with AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick
