Richmond second-year midfielder Matt Arnot didn’t have long to dwell on the news he would be making his AFL debut last weekend.

The 19-year-old was only given official word of his inclusion in Richmond’s senior team the day before the match against St Kilda at the MCG.

With fellow Tiger cub Nick Vlastuin nursing a sore shin during the week, Arnot considered himself a slim chance of a call-up, and official word finally came.

“I got up Saturday morning thinking I was going to have VFL captain’s run,” he told Roar Vision.

“There was a bit of doubt over Nick’s shin.  The coaches had a meeting upstairs and Dimma called me into his office and said I was playing.

“Everything was a whirlwind experience from there.  It was amazing.”

Arnot’s debut was a long time coming – 18 months after he was drafted and after some consistently strong form in the VFL with Coburg.

“It was a bit frustrating at times, because I thought I was able to play, and I thought I was ready to play.

“But I said to Dimma a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to be given a game, I don’t want to be gifted a game.  I want to earn the right to play for the jumper.  That’s the most important thing for me.

The hard-at-it youngster, known for his fierce attack on the football, was impressive in his first-up performance.

He gathered 11 disposals, laid a team-high seven tackles, and, most importantly, looked at home on the big stage.

Click on the video player above to watch the full interview.