But the fact that he has played just three and is about to play his fourth represents a great deal about his three ‘Ps’: personality, patience and persistence.
Magner is relishing everything that comes his way in an AFL environment.
He previously had to combine work and a VFL career - he played for Frankston and more recently Sandringham - as he pursued an AFL career. But he said it was worth the wait.
“I worked in construction, and it’s not easy work. It’s obviously not the worst money in the world, but it’s not easy work to play in the VFL and train after work,” he said.
“Last year, I played with some St Kilda players [via its alignment with Sandringham] and I remember hearing a couple of times on a Sunday that they had to go in at 8.30 am for rehab and they were complaining.
“I used to say ‘you can get up at 5.30 am and come with me [to work]’. Having to do that makes you appreciate it even more.
“If I came in at 18, it’s hard to know if I would’ve appreciated it as much, but you definitely want it a lot more when you get that opportunity that you didn’t think you’d get.
“You try and make the most of it.”
Magner said his life had been “a bit of a whirlwind” since he was drafted by Melbourne last December in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
“I didn’t picture being where I am now,” he said.
“Towards the end of last year, I didn’t think I’d be really playing AFL, so to come from there and be playing, even one AFL game, I was so excited.
“But I’ve held my spot and played a few now, so it’s been really enjoyable. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for so long.”
Magner said the greatest difference he had experienced in playing at the highest level was “covering a lot of ground at a high intensity”.
“In the VFL, it’s not cheap, but you can get away with a little bit more,” he said.
“Off the field, there is a lot more time involved in football now, as opposed to last year … I can’t get enough of and I enjoy every aspect of it.”
In his first match for the Demons, Magner had a dream start, kicking two goals from his first two kicks. His reaction produced an exciting run and two pumped arms in the air.
It was sheer delight for a player who had to work his backside off to make it in the AFL.
“At the time, it sounds cheesy, but you’re in the zone,” he said.
“I can’t really remember exactly the details, but the first thing that came to mind was getting excited with a fist pump.
“That’s probably as good a start as you could ask for - being able to kick a couple of goals with your first two kicks.”
In his second game, Magner impressed against the Eagles at Patersons Stadium with 32 disposals. He also managed to shark some of the opposition’s ruck work from outstanding West Coast duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
“[Midfield coaches Brian] ’Choc’ Royal and Aaron Greaves put together footage of the ruckmen every week, and we got the opportunity to watch it with some extra time over and over again,” he said.
“We had a bit of time to watch it in the hotel and it showed they had a few spots that they liked to hit to. I was able to figure that out and I knew that I was a fair chance of getting the ball.
“The footage we get given really helped a lot and that’s one of the things you don’t get at VFL level. You can really analyse your opposition and you can go really in depth.”
But last round, in Magner’s third AFL match, he received more attention against the Richmond midfield, as he explained.
“It was disappointing personally and definitely for the team,” he said.
“It’s just adjusting to being an AFL player. You can’t expect to get a ton of the ball every week, and when you’re having a quiet day, you’ve got to focus on tackling and the little things. Hopefully from there, the ball ends up in your hands.
“But I’m hoping to bounce back from there and have a better performance [against the Western Bulldogs].”
Magner has also had his challenges since his arrival at the club, with an ankle and finger injury in the pre-season.
“The ankle happened early on - my second day at the club - and it just lingered on and gave me a little bit of grief throughout the NAB Cup,” he said.
“But it’s feeling really good now, and the finger is feeling really good now, but it was annoying.
“I’ve had to play through with the finger not 100 per cent, but everything is nearly back to 100 per cent, so I can’t really complain.”
His finger injury in the NAB Cup had Magner’s mates wondering if he would be affected in Dream Team/Super Coach, where he has become somewhat of a cult figure, given his bargain basement price as a first-year player.
“I’ve had a lot of mates, and mates of mates asking ‘is he going to be OK with his finger injury?’ Things like that,” he said.
“I’m as cheap as you can get in it, so I think I’ve been a cash cow.”
But more importantly for Magner, he is hoping for the real deal on Sunday when Melbourne aims to notch up its first victory of the season against the also winless Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday.
“We’ve gone through the game from last week and we really know what we want to work on,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ve fixed that up and if we do that for four quarters, it’ll give us the chance of possibly winning the game.”
On top of that, the Demons are paying tribute to the late, great Jim Stynes.
“It’d definitely be nice to win for Jim, but we try not to focus on the result itself,” he said.
“Everyone has been really positive and buoyant during the week and there hasn’t been any negativity.
“We’re just trying to get everything right during the game and then hopefully the result takes care of itself.”
