IT’LL be a big day for Mitch Clisby on Saturday.

Not only will the 23-year-old from Broken Hill be making his AFL debut for Melbourne against St Kilda at the MCG, but one of his closest mates from back home – Adelaide sharpshooter Taylor Walker – will be present, cheering him on.

“My mate ‘Tex’ is pretty big back there, so I think I’ve got a few games [to go to catch him] yet,” Clisby said from AAMI Park on Friday.

“He was one of the first people to ring me, because we’re good mates and he’ll be flying over Saturday for the game.

“He just basically said ‘enjoy every minute of it, leading up to the game’. He’s experienced it and been through a fair bit, so he just said ‘take it all in and go out there and keep doing what you’re doing’.”

Asked if he took any fashion advice from Walker, who sports a well-renowned mullet, Clisby said with a laugh: “Clearly not … I might stay away from that, [because] I don’t think it’ll suit me too much.”

Reflecting on his journey from Broken Hill to North Adelaide to Melbourne, Clisby said it had been worth persevering for an AFL career. He finally got his opportunity after he was selected at No.19 in last year’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft – claiming the last place on Melbourne’s list.  

“It’s taken me a bit longer, but I’m glad I stuck at it,” he said.

“I spent a few years at North Adelaide in the SANFL and then got the call in the rookie draft.

“The next day I was doing an eight-hour trek through the heat, so it all happened pretty quickly, but I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Clisby, whose debut coincides with Neil Craig’s first as Melbourne coach, said he hoped “to provide something for the team”.

“We’ve been trying to work on my defensive side of my game a bit more, because I’m a pretty attacking player, so we’ve just tried to get the balance right. Since I arrived here, we’ve got that balance, so hopefully I can put that on show on Saturday,” he said.

“I’m very excited and nervous at the same time. To get the news on Wednesday was a pretty big thing for me. I’ve waited a bit longer than the average 18-year-old, so to get the opportunity now is pretty exciting.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to do and now Saturday will become a dream come true, when I run out with the boys.”