FOR TWO years Adam Spackman watched on from the Brisbane Lions football shop wondering what it would be like to join the players on the other side of the fence.

On Saturday night he found out.

In what has played out as the classic boyhood dream, 19-year-old Spackman worked two years in the club's shop before being drafted onto the rookie list late last year to join his idols on the field.

And in the opening round of the NAB Cup against St Kilda on Saturday night, he got a taste of the action, playing on Saints livewire Stephen Milne for the second half.

Spackman was overlooked in the national draft in 2007, but went back to his club at Morningside and had a stellar 2008.

It ensured his role on the Lions' payroll changed significantly.

“I started off upstairs and moved downstairs so nothing's changed except the job,” he laughed.

“(Lions head of football department Graeme) Gubby Allen came up and said before the rookie draft they were going to pre-select me.

“It's everything I'd worked for. It's probably relief more than anything.

“When I first started it was surreal. I wasn't intimidated I was just trying to not make mistakes. But now I'm getting to know them (players) a bit better and feel better.”

Spackman said he jumped on the bandwagon after the Lions won their second premiership in 2002 and became a supporter from his Hervey Bay home.

He moved to Brisbane to finish his schooling at Indooroopilly's St Peters Lutheran College in 2006 and got the traineeship at the Lions shop at the end of that year.

“I wanted to get a traineeship, and there was another mate of mine here, (St Kilda's) Dave Armitage and I was keen to get there and see what they (players) do and it just made me want it so much,” Spackman said.

“I didn't get drafted at 18 but I got rookied at 19.

“I was upset because I was working there for a year and I wanted to be like the boys but I went back and thought about it talked to a few people and worked on what I had to do and I just went away and worked as hard as I could.”

And the midfielder did just that, being a prime mover in Morningside's push to last year's grand final against Southport.

Spackman said getting to run on as a substitute in Saturday night's nine-point win over St Kilda was a dream come true.

“It was awesome. Once I got on I was excited. Milne is one of the guys you see when you're growing up. He's pretty quick and pretty smart but I loved it.”