Two years playing senior football with Norwood in the SANFL might have better prepared James Aish for AFL football, but it didn’t help settle his nerves ahead of his senior debut last Saturday.

Aish was drafted as a ‘ready-made’ midfielder, but experienced what all new players go through in the lead-up to their first AFL match.

In fact, the hype surrounding the South Australian product’s ‘ready-made’ ability probably helped fuel the expectation surrounding him.
 
“I really wanted to come out and show that I can play at this level so I was a little nervous,” Aish told The Courier Mail after his debut match.

“I put that pressure on myself but the boys were really good and made me feel right at home.

“Leppa (senior coach Justin Leppitsch) was good too. Everyone was telling me to enjoy my footy, play my role and not worry about too much else.

“I was able to sleep pretty well and enjoy the experience.”

And Aish didn’t disappoint, finishing with 17 disposals, five marks, and five one per centers – the most of any non-defender – in a promising first outing.

With his first match out of the way, the Lions’ first selection at last year’s draft can expect to feel even more comfortable at the elite level with each passing week.