IF YOU hadn't already noticed, West Coast Eagles rising star nominee Brad Ebert relishes playing on the big names.

The 18-year-old earned his nomination for the 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star award after collecting 25 possessions and kicking three goals on St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo.

And far from being daunted by the game's stars, Ebert sees it as a challenge worth taking on.

“It doesn't really daunt me,” Ebert said on Tuesday.

“I really like the challenge of playing on the bigger players. The week before, I played on Travis Johnstone and I think it just gives you a goal to work on them. In the end it teaches you something after the game.”

Ebert captained South Australia at Under 18 level and was the only crow-eater to earn All-Australian selection at last year’s national carnival.

And while making a seamless transition to AFL football, the brave midfielder set himself a goal at the start of the year to play half the season.

Having only missed four games he has well and truly exceeded those expectations. But Ebert admits there has been plenty of ground to make up since graduating to the big league.

“I suppose it's just the speed. The speed of the game definitely increases from SANFL level, and also the atmosphere with so many people watching,” he said.

“If you muck up one little thing it ends up being a goal so I suppose you have to come to terms with that and pick up the pace of your game as well.”

Ebert has had one other standout performance this year and it also resulted in a West Coast victory. In round nine against Adelaide he had 28 possessions and 10 marks to lead his side to a 50-point win.

So how did these breakout performances come about? It would seem a mix of confidence and opportunity in the centre of the ground.

“I was confident going into the weekend's game,” said Ebert, who notes James Hird and Chris Judd as players he admired.

“I was looking forward to going out and playing, and I was playing on Dal Santo which was a fair challenge for me. I just felt that if I was able to stay with him and try and beat him I'd be able to get the footy myself because he'd take me to contests.

“I was around the football a lot more. I was in the middle for most of the game, which got me around the ball and I found it.”

Since arriving at the club Ebert said Tyson Stenlein had played a mentoring role while teammates Adam Selwood, Matt Priddis and Daniel Kerr are always available to talk footy.

And since crossing the border from his native South Australia, the West has started to feel like home.

“It's a rebuilding phase and I'm happy to be at the Eagles,” he said.

“It's a great club and I know that we're going to be a strong team and I feel that this is just the beginning of what can be a real strong new breed.”