EIGHT players are in the running to make their AFL debuts on the opening weekend of the home and away season.
Those young men – Collingwood's Tom Langdon, Gold Coast trio Sean Lemmens, Clay Cameron and Jack Martin, Carlton draftees Nick Holman and Patrick Cripps and Port Adelaide youngsters Tom Clurey and Jarman Impey – will be hoping to make the kind of impression that Michael Barlow did in his first outing for Fremantle in round one, 2010.
In an extraordinary performance against Adelaide on a balmy Saturday night at Subiaco, the then-22-year-old gathered 33 possessions and kicked two goals.
It was hailed as the greatest debut by a midfielder since Greg Williams gathered 38 disposals for Geelong in the first round of the 1984 season.
"It was really exciting," said Barlow, who grew up in the regional Victorian city of Shepparton.
"A couple of days out from the game I was a bit nervous, but when the day came it was more a day of excitement.
"I was really up and about that I'd got the opportunity to play AFL footy. I wanted to enjoy the moment, rather than be daunted by it.
"I remember that Tony Armstrong was playing for Adelaide and I went to school with Tony. He was making his debut as well.
"There were a few moments when we were running past each other that it was surreal that we were playing in an AFL game together."
Barlow had joined the Dockers only four months prior to that clash with the Crows, as the club's first pick in the NAB AFL rookie draft after spending the 2009 season with VFL club Werribee.
He forced his way onto the Dockers main list by training the house down during the pre-season.
"Playing the NAB Cup series gave me some confidence that I could compete at the level," Barlow recalled. "I thought I was physically and mentally well prepared.
"Playing in the VFL against some AFL bodies in the lead-up to it held me in good stead."
After his match-winning performance against Adelaide, which had commentator Brian Taylor in raptures on Fox Sports’ telecast, Barlow could hardly wipe the smile off his face as while being interviewed by boundary rider Leigh Colbert.
Up in the stands, a contingent of his family and friends celebrated the occasion with gusto.
"Mum and dad, my four siblings, an aunty and one of my best mates from ‘Shep’ were there," Barlow said. "It was a great day and night."
In his post-match press conference, Freo coach Mark Harvey tried to keep a lid on things.
"It was just matter of whether he was going to be able to handle it under this extreme pressure," Harvey said.
"He is still learning the game, and he has still got a lot to learn. But he is mature and I am pretty sure that he is not going to get carried away with his first game."
However, Adelaide coach Neil Craig was effusive in his praise.
"He is a pretty accomplished player, and looks a pretty hardened player to me. I thought he was outstanding for a debut, fantastic," Craig said.
Barlow continued to set the footy world abuzz during the following weeks, averaging 28 possessions per game and kicking 15 goals in his first 12 games.
But after being mentioned as an outside chance to win the Brownlow Medal, he broke his leg in a collision with teammate Rhys Palmer in the last quarter of the Dockers' round 13 clash with Port Adelaide.
Having overcome that early hurdle, Barlow now has 70 games and a Grand Final appearance to his name. And he'll be at the heart of Fremantle's midfield as the Dockers open their 2014 campaign against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
A young man who was able to control his first-game nerves and has since then made the most of his opportunities, Barlow has some simple advice for the youngsters making their debuts this weekend.
"You've got to enjoy the moment and not get too overawed by the situation," he said. "You've earned the right to play and respect from your coaches and colleagues.
"You'll make mistakes, but no one's perfect. Chris Judd will make mistakes and Gary Ablett will make mistakes.
"They should enjoy the moment for themselves and the people that have been along the journey with them."
