FIRST-gamer Aaron vandenBerg says hearing the final siren and knowing that Melbourne had won the opening round of the season – in his first AFL match – was a moment he’ll never forget.

Reflecting on his AFL debut in Melbourne’s 26-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG, vandenBerg said he woke up later than usual on game day, before the nerves kicked in at the ground.

“It wasn’t too nerve wracking until I actually went out on the field and had a little bit of a kick before the game – that’s when it started to sink in that I was going to be playing on the MCG,” he told Dee TV.  

“I’ve certainly never played in front of a crowd of that magnitude before. 

“Every time we kicked a goal, they’d (the Melbourne supporters) get up and about – and it was amazing to hear.”

The 23-year-old, who moved from Canberra, where he played football for Ainslie and was an apprentice at the Royal Australian Mint, said he relished his new occupation.

“I’ve loved the lifestyle and the job since day one and to be able to get my shoulder in a good position and push for round one – and actually get to play round one was amazing, so I was very excited about it,” he said.

vandenBerg said his focus was to back up and do everything right and “beg the coaches for more information” in the lead-up to returning to his former home – in just his second AFL match.

“I’ll just pester them and pester them and try and learn to get better,” he said.