As a child growing up in NSW, his focus each Anzac Day was not on the Collingwood-Essendon clash happening across the border.

 

"I didn't understand how big the game really was until I came down here and started going to a couple," Witts told AFL.com.au.

 

On Friday, the 21-year-old will experience for the first time what life inside the boundary line is like on such an occasion.

 

"The occasion is massive in itself without talking about the game. I'm expecting it to be hot early, a lot of pressure on the ball and then eventually it will settle down," Witts said.

 

He has no doubt the game will be bigger than any of the 10 he has already played.

 

Luckily he enters the occasion with two reasonable games behind him.

 

It should help him steady in front of a huge crowd so he can have the sort of performance he promises to deliver.  

 

Right now he is concentrating on building a solid foundation, one from which he hopes to eventually launch upwards.

 

"Playing games back-to-back has given me a chance to really settle into the AFL to build that momentum," Witts said. 

"Hopefully I'll keep getting games and keep building my par game up from to good to great over time."

 

The incline has been gradual so far.

 

Although he came to the game late, Collingwood recognised his talent early and grabbed him via the NSW scholarship program with pick No.67 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.

 

Spruiked as the Magpies' next big thing at the start of last season, the 209cm ruckman was not ready to deliver.

 

He made his debut in round six but played just seven senior games.

 

Brodie Grundy took his spot late in the season and performed so well that he ended the season as the Magpies' No.1 ruckman.

 

Suddenly, with the spotlight on Grundy, Witts' development process slipped back under the radar.

 

A shoulder operation one week after the final game in 2013 kept Witts in a sling for most of the break but that setback allowed him to build his endurance.

 

He was fit for round one against Fremantle but didn't fire. He wasn't Robinson Crusoe, however, as Collingwood was thrashed, but he was demoted to the VFL.

 

He understood why.

 

"I didn't impact the scoreboard and at the same time I was not keeping my opponent accountable. I had to get back to the VFL and prove I could do that, as well as get a bit more run in my legs and get to a few more contests and give that support aerially and in the ruck," Witts said.

 

From the opening minutes in his return against Richmond in round four he looked a different player, presenting well, gaining possession cleanly and using his rare combination of height and mobility to worry his opponent.  

 

However, when assessing his game he didn't overlook the negatives.

 

"I probably didn't tip in enough defensively and in the ruck, [I] didn't give the best I could," Witts said.

 

He's not exactly the type blow his own trumpet, but his eyes relax when his rucking partners Grundy and the rookie-listed veteran Ben Hudson are mentioned.

 

He hopes he and Grundy, who have just 22 games experience between them, can develop - with Hudson's guidance and example to follow - into a formidable combination.

 

At the moment though, Witts and Grundy are just getting to know each other, so to speak.

 

Witts guesses he spends about 60 per cent of his time on the ground in the forward line at the moment, alternating with Grundy in the ruck for the remainder so both keep their intensity around the ball high.

 

"We're getting better the more we play, with changes throughout the game and understanding each other's game and how much time we want to spend in each position," Witts said. 

"We're slowly beginning to get that and that can only go up from where we are now."

 

A key aspect of that development for Witts is his mental preparation.

 

He has worked hard on being ready to take his opportunity when the moment arrives. He has the physical attributes but he needs to switch on and off at the right times. He knows that and is addressing it.

 

Everything takes time, particularly big blokes, and Witts appears unlikely to defy the norm.

 

On Friday he has a chance to be part of something special and he is excited. 

 

"It's another opportunity for me to put my foot forward and cement a spot in the team," Witts said.