MILES BERGMAN has admitted to having nerves and excitement leading into his first senior hit-out in Saturday’s practice game between Port Adelaide and the Crows.
Bergman was taken with pick 14 in the 2019 draft but with no SANFL last season for the club, he played only match simulation games last year.
The Sandringham Dragons product has mostly been lining up in the backline this season instead of his customary wing or half forward role, and enjoyed the experience of his first proper game at Alberton.
“It was so good to be out there. I was so excited leading up and a little bit nervous but it was great to be out there,” he told portadelaidefc.com.au after the game.
“The boys were really welcoming and it’s been a great day for it as well.
“I started on the wing and all those boys were good at looking after me and then I moved into the backline where I’ve been playing most of my pre-season and most of those guys down there were really helpful, especially Hamish Hartlett who has been looking after me this pre-season.”
Bergman showed glimpses of his talent, looking composed and setting up play off half back with some precision long passes out of the backline as his side ran out 52-point victors.
Most of the damage was done in the second and third quarters including a five-goal burst in eight minutes.
The 19-year-old admitted the game was intense and certainly felt like a step-up.
“It was definitely a lot quicker and the boys were a lot cleaner,” he said.
“All the boys have got good skills and run fast so it’s hard to keep up but it was great to be out there.”
Close to making his AFL debut in 2020 after being named an emergency at least seven times, the long-haired backman has built on his frame and worked hard on some deficiencies in the off-season to have him primed for another shot at breaking into the side this year.
He is hoping to get another chance to impress with Port meets the Crows again in next weekend’s AAMI Community Series game at Noarlunga.
“I’ve definitely worked a lot in the gym to put on some size to match the bodies out there and kept working on my running ability on the outside,” Bergman said of his off-season.
“I worked hard with some senior boys on some things I needed to improve like my ground balls and my kicking so making sure that everything was on point.”
