HARRY Petty says he wouldn’t have predicted he’d make his AFL debut this early in his career.

But that’s exactly what he’ll do when he runs out with Melbourne against St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday.

Petty, who was drafted at No.37 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, expected to spend much of the season developing with Casey Demons.  

But the defender was rapt to find out he would become the 1339^th player to represent Melbourne since it became a foundation VFL/AFL club in 1897.

“I thought I was just going to be playing VFL for most of the year and put my best case forward in the VFL,” he told Melbourne Media.  

“But not at all [did I think I would debut at this stage of my career].”

Still, when Petty was told his news, he was “over the moon”

“I’m just happy to pull on the guernsey for the first time and get out there and get a few kicks,” he said.

“I was sitting in a meeting and Goody (Simon Goodwin) said I was playing, so I was a bit surprised, but it was good.

“I’ve been playing some pretty consistent footy in the VFL, so I thought I was in with a sniff, but I’m just happy to have the opportunity and hopefully I can do the team and fans proud.”

After the meeting, Petty called his parents immediately to tell them of his news.  

“They were pretty shocked really – a bit the same as me really. They didn’t really expect it to come, but they’re over the moon for me,” he said.

“They will come across on Saturday night – it’s a long drive from Wudinna (570km north-west of Adelaide), so it’ll be good.”

As for the coach, Goodwin told the 197cm defender to back himself in the air.

“That’s my game, so if I get a run and jump at it – [he] just [wants me to] take a mark or send it over the boundary line,” he said.

“I’ll use my footy smarts to help me.”

Petty said injured defender Jake Lever and head of development coach Matthew Egan had been big influences on him since he joined the club.

“We’ve (Lever and I) been going through game edits and watching him play, so I really want to play like him. He’s been a really good one,” he said.

“Matthew Egan … he’s really helped me with my fundamentals – my kicking, handballs and marking, so I really appreciate that.”

Looking ahead to game day, Petty said he would be edgy, before settling quickly. 

“I’ll definitely be very, very nervous, but as soon as the ball bounces, I think they’ll all go away and I’ll focus on playing footy, so it should be all right,” he said.