It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for 18-year-old Callum Ah Chee.
When the young West Australian went to dinner on Friday night, he was preparing to line-up for the SUNS in the NEAFL curtain raiser on Saturday afternoon.
A couple of hours later, the No. 8 draft pick found out from senior coach Rodney Eade he’d be making a round one AFL debut, a late call-up for Kade Kolodjashnij who was struck down by illness.
“I got told last night. Rocket gave me the call up after dinner,” Ah Chee told BLK RAW after the SUNS’ 61-point win over the Bombers.
“I missed a call because I was eating dinner but called him back and yeah, got the call up so couldn’t be more thankful.”
With Ah Chee a confirmed starter for round one, the next task was for the SUNS player welfare team to bring his family across from Western Australia.
Callum’s parents and four of his brothers were seated on the red-eye flight from Perth that night, arriving into Brisbane Airport at 5am on game day.
It was a mission, but Ah Chee was thankful for their presence at Metricon Stadium and the opportunity to follow in his brother Brendon’s footsteps who debuted for Port Adelaide in round three last season.
“It’s an amazing feeling knowing that family’s over to watch you play,” he said.
“My brother’s gone through it so to go through the same thing is an amazing feeling.”
It took until midway through the second quarter for Ah Chee to register his first kick at the top level, but it was certainly memorable.
Jack Martin spilled the ball front and centre from a marking contest, where Ah Chee was waiting in perfect position. The young gun took a handful of steps and calmly slotted his first AFL goal on his classy right boot from 40 metres out.
Reflecting on the goal post-game, drenched in Gatorade following the team song, you couldn’t wipe the infectious smile from the 18-year-old’s face.
The entire experience was an unforgettable one that will forever be etched in Ah Chee’s memory.
“It’s an awesome feeling, getting in the middle of the song and all the boys getting around us,” he said.
“So it was an awesome feeling getting out there and a dream come true. Loved it.”
