Jake Melksham proved last year he can deliver on the big stage after being named best-on-ground in the 2009 TAC Cup Grand Final for the Calder Cannons.
This Saturday night the 18-year-old will get another chance to shine in the spotlight after being named to make his AFL debut against Carlton at the MCG infront of an expected crowd of around 80,000 people.
Click here to bid on David Zaharakis' guernsey from Sunday's clash with Fremantle.
""Matthew Knights called me into his office on Tuesday and he pointed to my name on the board and told me I was playing,"" Melksham said.
""He told me that telling players that they would make their debut is one of the things he really enjoys about coaching.
""I just smiled and he was pretty happy too but pretty serious so I put a straight face on and acted mature and listened to what he said. I was really happy to get the news but I tried not to act it - when I left his office I was pretty excited though.""
The Bombers first pick (No.10 overall) in last year's National Draft said he tries to remind himself everyday to appreciate the opportunity to play AFL and said he was given an early wake-up call about the standard required soon after arriving at Windy Hill.
""During the pre-season training camp in Coffs Harbour I spent most of one-day matched up against Andrew Welsh at training and I thought he would take it easier on me but he bashed into me, punched me and elbowed me and it showed me how tough it is in the AFL and that it will be twice as hard or even harder during a game,"" he said.
""Coming to the club with Jake Carlisle, Travis Colyer and Anthony Long made it easier though because we were all just as nervous as each other arriving here.""
The speedy, 185cm midfielder said he couldn't wait to tell his family but was unable to reach his dad who was camping. He said up to 20 family and friends will be there to see him play against one of the Bombers' fiercest rivals.
Meanwhile, veteran midfielder, Mark McVeigh, has been ruled out of the game after spending a fourth night in hospital with blood poisoning.
General manager of football operations, Paul Hamilton, said the 29-year-old was slowly recovering from an infected cut on his arm but would remain under observation.
""Mark was obviously quite ill the night after the Fremantle game and it has taken longer than first thought for him to recover,"" Hamilton said.
""The good news is that he is feeling better each day but he is not well enough to be considered for selection this week. We hope he will be back on deck for next week's game.""
The full Essendon team will be named on this website first at 4:45pm today.
