Which is understandable when you consider that his first opponent was Mal Michael, with his not-inconsiderable 190cm, 99kg frame.
Despite the Lions going down to Essendon by 27 points in Saturday’s night’s round one NAB Cup clash, Henderson impressed on debut with three goals.
Even more remarkably, he did it against former Lion Michael, perhaps the most consistent stopper in the competition over the past seven years.
"I got thrown around a bit – I definitely couldn’t move Mal, so I had to try and run him around,” Henderson said.
"I was pretty happy with the way I went but [Michael] is amazing with some of the spoils he pulls off. He just comes out of nowhere and gets you.
"I didn’t actually get nervous until the warm-up and from then on I was a little nervous until five or 10 minutes into the first quarter – then I sort of started to feel like I was supposed to be out there.”
The notion that Henderson is “supposed” to be locking horns with the likes of Michael, would certainly be endorsed up by Lions fans, who had waited all summer to see the club’s top draft pick in action.
They weren’t disappointed.
In front of 10,078 fans at Carrara, Henderson showed impressive mobility and dexterity and his snapped goal from hard-up against the boundary line in the second quarter was perhaps the game’s most exciting moment.
"To be honest I had no idea what I was doing with that one,” he laughed.
"I reckon I’ve missed the last 10 of those that I’ve tried in training. I was just telling Scotty Clouston before that it was pure fluke.”
While Henderson’s goals for the season extend to no more than staying fit and in contention for a game, assistant coach Justin Leppitsch has no doubt he is set for big things.
Leppitsch stood in as coach for Leigh Matthews on Saturday night and was very much enthused by Henderson’s 11-possession, five-mark display.
"He was playing on a very good player in Mal Michael and did a good job,” Leppitsch said.
"He showed some really good signs and we have high hopes for him long-term.”
