THE road to Sam Blease's first AFL game has been long and uncertain but it will finally reach its destination when he runs out for the Demons against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

Blease was trying to forge his way through with VFL team Casey in 2009 when a harmless kick to kick on his lunch break at Yarra Valley Grammar School ended with a broken leg, bringing his first season to a premature end.

The broken leg kept him out of the first 16 games of 2010 before returning for the last six weeks of the season with the Scorpions.

He stepped up a notch this year, consistently being named in the Scorpions' best and Melbourne's emergencies several times before finally finding out on Thursday morning that he was to debut.

"I've come from a long way back. I broke my leg in '09 and it's been a long road since then. I got told this morning, so I was pretty excited. I finished training and Bails came up to give me the good news," Blease said.

Blease was taken in the same draft that brought Jack Watts, James Strauss, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta and Rohan Bail to the Demons but had to watch on as each of his fellow draft classmates began their careers.

Then, the following year, Blease's Yarra Valley school mate Jordan Gysberts and good friend Tom Scully arrived at the club and quickly made their debuts.

"I didn't know how much it was going to affect me long-term with regards to my debut. It was difficult watching Wattsy, Scull and Jordy Gysberts play," he said.

"I played a lot of footy with them growing up and it really drove me to get out there and play with them."

He said Scully in particular has been a valuable help as he worked towards his first AFL game.

"He's been good for me. He's given me a lot of advice on my game. He's told me to play to my strengths and play with confidence," he said.

"I've taken my time to get there and now I've got to hold my spot in the side."

The 20-year-old admits that in his time in recovery and rehabilitation there were moments of doubt and frustration.

"There are definitely moments where you think it is all going pear shaped but I've got good support behind me and they've been able to get me through it," he said.

"It didn't sink in until a year later when there was a bit of uncertainty if it had healed properly. I've been fortunate that it has healed quite well and I should be right to go for many years to come."

But Blease is well aware of the perspective of injury worries at a football club, especially when his good news came on the same day that the club learned of the sad passing of former defender Sean Wight.

Speaking just hours after hearing the news, Blease said Wight's death had been felt strongly in the Melbourne inner sanctum.

"I've heard he was a great character at the club. He and Jimmy Stynes did a bit of work together around the place," he said.

"There are a few boys like Jared Rivers who had a fair bit to do with him and it's hit them pretty hard. (Assistant coach) Todd Viney and (football manager) Chris Connolly played with him too, so it was quite upsetting news."

Luke Holmesby covers Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby.