Brandon Starcevich was initially taken by surprise when told he’d been given the tough job on Dockers goal sneak Michael Walters, but he soon saw it is as a great opportunity.

The young defender played four games in his first senior year and added just one in 2019 after a badly torn hamstring and Achilles and quad problems hampered his progress.

He was the summer standout at the Lions in his third off-season and his efforts were rewarded with selection in the side for round one.

Following the Covid 19 interruption he held his position and, in just his seventh AFL game, was handed one of the toughest task in football.

Walters was the man who broke Brisbane’s hearts in the nail biting one-point loss in Perth last year and he again loomed as the danger man.

Brisbane rate Starcevich highly, having used the 18th pick in the 2017 draft to bring him to the Club.

But it was his performances against elusive teammates Charlie Cameron and Linc McCarthy in match drills at training convinced the coach he was the man for the job on Walters.

“It was a little bit of a surprise but I did a fair bit of work in the time we had off and I thought my training block was pretty good and playing on guys like Charlie and Linc McCarthy, you get a taste for it,’’ he said.

“He’s (Walters) a good player and it was a big challenge.

“He got off the chain at the end, but it is good to play on those sort of guys, you learn a lot of stuff on how to handle those blokes.

“I’ll be better for it going forward.’’

The 20-year-old is part of a new-look defence for Brisbane with recruits Grant Birchall and Callum Ah Chee also finding homes in the back half.

“They've fitted in pretty seamlessly,’’ he said.

“Birch been playing backline for years in that same sort of system at Hawthorn.
“Cal is from Gold Coast and has played a bit different style but has picked it up quickly, he’s got a great kick.

“They've been good, started to form a good combo and there's a lot of depth there as well.
“Last year with the way we were going, you don't want to change a winning team, so it was hard to get a crack in, this year I got my chance so hopefully I’ll stick in there.’’

He said the experience of Birchall, and established veterans Daniel Rich, Darcy Gardiner and Harris Andrews was significant in the final quarter as the Dockers surged.

“They were very steady and very vocal in those last few minutes when the Dockers started coming,’’ he said.

“Having those heads certainly helps, especially for me, those guys have seen it all.’’

The Lions’ now turn their focus to West Coast who were upset by Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

The Eagles are considered premiership contenders and Starcevich says the Lions expect

“We're expecting them to come out with a bit of heat after that result on the weekend, they'll bring their best for sure,’’ he said.

“They're a good team when they're going.

“There will be a little bit of that (Suns firing them), it was good to watch that game, but didn't do us any favours.’’