A summer spent shadowing experienced match-winner Toby Greene has prepared GWS running machine Cooper Hamilton for his AFL debut.
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And the 18-year-old's new tricks will be put to the test when does battle with close friend Josh Rachele in the Giants' clash with Adelaide on Saturday.
"That adds some more excitement to it, I get to play against my best mate," Hamilton said.
"He's had a wonderful start to his career but I'm just starting out and I don't have too high expectations on myself.
"I just want to get through the game and have a win, hopefully.
"Maybe we'll cross paths at some point and I'll give him a cheeky little bump."
Hamilton has leant on Greene since arriving at the Giants via last year's rookie draft and stood the explosive forward in several intra-club hit-outs.
The pair studied the vision together as Greene passed on his experience.
If Hamilton does find himself matched up on Rachele, who has already kicked a dozen goals in six games and earned a Rising Star nomination, he'll be ready.
"(Green) pulled me into line pretty early and he was very hard to play on," Hamilton said.
"It's fair to say he gave me a bath most times.
"He was really good and taught me the ins and outs of playing on a small forward, which in turn helped me when I started playing competitive football.
"I had some little things in the back of my mind that I could pull out to stop (an opponent) from doing something."
Hamilton turned club recruiters' heads last year when he posted the second-fastest 2km time trial (5.48) in AFL draft combine history.
The Colbinabbin product then made an instant impression on his new teammates when smashed the Giants' club record over the same distance by 18 seconds.
In between, a distinct sense of responsibility formed on Hamilton's young shoulders when he found his way onto the GWS rookie list at draft time and brother Hugh was overlooked.
"Ultimately it was bittersweet," Hamilton said.
"Hugh has been extremely supportive of me and he's pretty ecstatic for me, but he's still grinding it out and trying to get onto an AFL list.
"I've got to try to help him, knowing what I know now (from) being in the system.
"It's good that one of us is on a list because we can help the other."
Hugh has since played in Carlton's VFL side this year.
He will be in the stands at Adelaide Oval for Cooper's debut before flying home to Victoria to play in a NAB League match the following day.
Australian Associated Press
