AFTER just two senior games, Jack Crisp's Brisbane Lions teammates were heckling him about chasing an unwanted record.
In his debut against Gold Coast in round four, Crisp sprayed three shots at goal to register three behinds.
The following week in pouring rain against Geelong at the Gabba, he had a golden chance to get off the mark but somehow fluffed it too.
After winning the race to a loose ball in the goalsquare, Crisp unbelievably missed everything with his soccered attempt from point-blank range.
"All the boys were saying 'when are you going to kick the first goal? You're going to be the next Lewis Jetta," Crisp said, in reference to the Sydney Swan who kicked 19 behinds before notching his first career goal.
But 18-year-old Crisp laid that to rest against Essendon last Saturday when he calmly slotted a first quarter set shot from just inside 50m. He also went on to kick a second goal later in the match.
"It was good to get a couple through," he said. "I was pretty rapt. Now the boys can't bag me out."
Crisp has risen through the Lions ranks quickly after being taken with their third selection (No.40 overall) in last year's AFL Rookie Draft.
Hailing from the north Victoria town of Myrtleford, he has followed a remarkably similar path to reigning Lions club champion Tom Rockliff.
Both played for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup, and just like Rockliff did three years earlier, Crisp won their best and fairest for his stellar season in 2011.
Crisp immediately impressed everyone in Brisbane with his work ethic and ferocity in the contest during the pre-season.
So much so that when Matthew Leuenberger was put on the long-term injury list, he was elevated and immediately put in the senior team.
"I wasn't expecting to get a game because I was on the rookie list so I just thought I'd attack this year, do a good pre-season and do the best I could in reserves so the coaches could see what I could do and hopefully get elevated off the rookie list at the end of the year," he said.
"I'm feeling a bit more comfortable running out, it's not so nerve-racking any more.
"I'm just starting to get a feel for the game and I just want to keep going out there and getting used to it so I can improve."
In his three games to date, Crisp has averaged 15 disposals and four tackles.
Standing 190cm tall, he is a good size and played forward as a junior, but in recent years has spent more time in the midfield and is hoping to mix the two roles at the Lions.
He said Saturday night's match against Collingwood was a huge test, both personally and collectively.
"I try not to overthink things too much," he said.
"I'm more of a calm person and don't want to get nervous so I relax and do my own thing.
"It's been a while since we've beaten a top eight team but I think we're a chance to win."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
