Fremantle debutant Caleb Serong was brimming with excitement after finding out he would make his AFL debut against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The 19-year-old was told the news by senior coach Justin Longmuir, who praised Serong’s attitude and work ethic.
The midfielder is set to rotate through the engine room where he will look to bring the same skill and toughness around the contest he has shown at training.
“As you can probably see, I can’t wipe the smile off my face, I can’t wait,” Serong said.
“(Longmuir) said to bring my strengths, just to approach the contest like I have at training, to work really hard.
“He said I’d been training well, so to take that out into game day and back my strengths.”
Serong’s debut lands on a big day for his family, with the game played on the same day as his father Jamie celebrates his 50th birthday.
Considering Serong won’t be there to celebrate the 50th, he hoped the debut would serve as an adequate present.
“I think so, he’s given up a lot for me and I wouldn’t be where I am without him,” Serong said.
“And that goes for my Mum as well. I think they’ll be really proud and I can’t wait to let them know.
“It would be nice to have them (at the game) but with all of the circumstances going on at the moment, we knew if I did debut, I probably wasn’t going to be able to have them there.
“I know they’ll be watching from home and supporting me like they always have.”
While Serong doesn’t have any experience at AFL level, he and fellow first year player Hayden Young will be the only Freo Dockers who have experience of lining up against the Gold Coast’s Matthew Rowell, who has been the talk of the AFL after starring in his debut season.
He said that Rowell’s outstanding start to his career would give other members of the 2019 draft class confidence that they can handle the game’s highest level.
“Matt’s a great player. He just attacks the contest and works so hard offensively and defensively,” Serong said.
“I guess, what he’s been able to do for the first couple of weeks, it does give me a lot of confidence as I have played against him a couple of times. It’s always a great challenge so I’m looking forward to playing against him on the weekend.”
