RORY Atkins left Adelaide Oval on Sunday after his AFL debut convinced that he had experienced senior football at its most intense.

Atkins made his debut as the substitute in the Crows' three-point win over Port Adelaide, forced onto the field in the second term when Daniel Talia was concussed.

The 21-year-old managed six possessions in his 52 per cent of game time.

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He said the pressure, crowd and size of the occasion meant he was offered the best possible taste of what the AFL had to offer.

"I wasn't overwhelmed as such, but I was still sitting on the bench pinching myself a bit, like, 'I could come one at any stage here, I'm actually here to play'," Atkins said.

"Considering the circumstances of the past fortnight and what's happened, if I'm to play again it won't be as heated – unless it's a finals-type game.

"So I think it'll hold me in good stead … with the intensity of what's to come."

Atkins closed in on his debut late last season and then again early this year with consistent performances in the SANFL.

The 81st pick at the 2012 NAB AFL Draft finished sixth in the SANFL side's best and fairest averaging 19 disposals a game at 80 per cent efficiency.

However a knee injury in February ruled the left-footer out for three months after he damaged the posterior cruciate ligament at training.

He returned to the field in May and said a focus on consistency had proved the difference between pushing for a senior birth and breaking through.

Atkins said he had former coach Brenton Sanderson to thank for the seemingly uncomplimentary nickname of 'Rat' at West Lakes.

The origin of the name is far tamer than any reference to sneaky on-field behaviour, but it has certainly stuck.

"I got it in my first week here, because on our lockers we've got our first name and last name and it says 'R. Atkins'," he said.

"So [Sanderson] said 'Rat' … because on the locker it says 'Ratkins'.

"It's kind of got to stick when the senior coach starts calling you that."