Already thrilled to be making his AFL debut, Fremantle midfielder Michael Frederick felt it would be even more special to do so in an RAC Derby.

Frederick will run out with his teammates on Sunday at Optus Stadium against the Eagles in what will be the 20-year-old’s first taste of the AFL.

Drafted at pick no.61 from SANFL club Woodville West Torrens in the 2019 NAB AFL National Draft, Frederick said he had fond memories of watching two rival teams go head to head growing up.

“It’s pretty exciting. I watched showdowns in Adelaide growing up thinking how cool it would be to play in one of those,” Frederick said.

“I get my chance here in Perth. I couldn’t have asked for a better game to play my first game in.”

Frederick’s debut will come with Freo playing their first genuine home game of 2020 with approximately 30,000 in attendance.

“That will be unreal, I’ve never played in front of more than probably a few thousand people,” Frederick said.

“Running out to the noise. I’m pretty excited. I played a half in the Marsh Series against Carlton when I first came on. The Freo fans were cheering like crazy, so that was pretty cool.”

Frederick broke into the team on form after impressing in the club’s scratch matches for non-selected players in their Gold Coast hub.

The winger finished off the hub experience in style with three goals against the Suns last Friday.

“It’s good experience to actually play against AFL listed players and I feel I fit in pretty well,” Frederick said.

“I had a couple of good games, so just knowing that I can play against grown men, it’s all confidence really and backing myself in.

“I mould my game off pressure and try and hit the scoreboard when I can and I did that last week in the scratchie, so I was pretty happy with how I went about it and JL said that’s what he was happy about as well.”