Greater Western Sydney newcomer Caleb Marchbank will line up against one of his boyhood heroes and has been getting advice from a star at another AFL club, in the leadup to his senior debut this weekend.
Defender Marchbank and midfielder Jack Steele will each play their first top fight game for an injury-ravaged GWS team who have lost Shane Mumford, Joel Patfull, Phil Davis and Stephen Coniglio following last weekend's loss to Collingwood.
Marchbank was excited at making his debut on Saturday against the Kangaroos, a team he grew up supporting.
At the other end of the experience spectrum and making his 396th appearance will be Kangaroos veteran Brent Harvey, whose poster adorned Marchbank's bedroom.
Harvey played his first senior game back in September 1996, three months before Marchbank was born.
Captain Andrew Swallow and key defender Scott Thompson are other Kangaroos he admires.
"On Saturday I could be lining up on one or paying against some of the boys I look up to," Marchbank said.
"It's going to be daunting, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge."
Marchbank hails from Benalla in north-eastern Victoria which is punching well above it's small population weight in terms of producing AFL players.
In recent times it has spawned Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff and Marchbank's Giants teammate Tom Downie.
Marchbank said he knew Rockliff from Benalla and the Lions' star had been in touch with him this week.
"He was encouraging me, telling me what to do," Marchbank said.
"It's really good to have that sort of connection.
"He heard the news (about me making my debut) straight after (it was announced) so he gave me a message straight away and said `give me a buzz if you feel like you need to'
"I said `I'd love to' to just get an insight to what it's like to prepare myself a little bit better."
Steele believed he could make an immediate impact in the senior side and the confident midfielder clearly felt he could have made his debut earlier after several weeks featuring among the best in the Giants reserves.
"Obviously when you play a good game of footy you expect to get rewarded for it and when you don't it's hard to get yourself up for next week," Steele said.
"I was talking to people about that and they helped me through it and eventually got there (to first grade)."
Giants coach Leon Cameron defended his star forward Jeremy Cameron against suggestions he displayed poor body language in last week's loss.
"I think there was one occasion where I don't think he chased as hard as he could have, but he's the first one to come in Monday and say `that's just not acceptable." Leon Cameron said."
Share
