Jay Lockhart is not that far removed from dark morning starts, unpacking shipping containers in Melbourne's far west before driving all but 90 minutes three times a week just to attend training.
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Now the two-time North Launceston TSL premiership star's biggest concern is regaining his place back in Melbourne's AFL side.
It's a transition Lockhart can live with following his standout debut last year at Demons' VFL affiliate Casey.
"It's been unbelievable so far," Lockhart told City Park Radio during half-time of Friday night's TSL derby.
"I was only there for a week and debuted against Geelong in round two. We haven't obviously got the wins on the board, but it's still been a very enjoyable year.
"I'm really liking it so far and ready to get back into the second half of the year."
Lockhart only emerged as an AFL recruit courtesy of the preseason supplemental selection period to fill Melbourne's last remaining spot.
The club later revealed the 23-year-old would have been the Demons' next selection in the AFL draft except they had no more picks left.
But the ex-Lilydale junior only got the nod from coach Simon Goodwin on the cut-off date for signing rookies.
"The only time I got to train with Melbourne was a couple of sessions just to fill in for numbers so they can do some match simulation drills," Lockhart said.
"I did a couple of those and was pencilled in to do another one when I was doing that through Casey and I got the phone call the night before I was going to Melbourne.
"It was very good actually when I rocked up to training and the boys didn't even know yet and got introduced as a new Melbourne player."
Lockhart is learning every week under Goodwin and believed he hasn't reach his "full potential yet" and has a "lot of improvement to do".
That learning curve was stopped briefly when 177cm floater was sidelined over a knee injury and went under the knife to get an infection cleaned out before returning for Casey last VFL match.
After just seven AFL games, the state half-back flanker is finding new self-belief.
"I definitely think there is a spot for me there in the forward line as that small, pressure forward," he said.
"I just have to make the most of my opportunities and hopefully they'll come in the next couple of weeks."
Lockhart has come a long way from the sparse stands at UTAS Stadium to facing Richmond in front of 72,000 in the Anzac Day Eve clash.
But he hasn't forgotten his Bombers roots that made it possible, pointing out the influence that Zane Littlejohn had on the latest club draftee.
"This [North Launceston] is where I started, coming at 16 to play seniors under Zane," Lockhart said.
"He's just doing amazing things up at Brisbane now.
"It just shows the quality of coach and person that he is to jump straight into an AFL environment from the TSL."