JACKSON Ferguson knew something was up when his usual Thursday routine was slightly changed.

Normally by that stage in the week, the St Kilda squad is divided into those who are in the mix for the senior team and those who are set to play with VFL team Sandringham.

Ferguson noticed that he was around some different faces to the usual.

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“I was training with the main team, lining up with Jarryn Geary and James Gwilt. Next thing I know I was in the defenders line meeting. Normally it’s only the guys who are playing who go into that,” Ferguson told saints.com.au.

“I got called into (football manager) Greg Hutchison’s office and he told me I was elevated on to the senior list. I thought “Gee, that’s out of the blue.”

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Ferguson was elevated in place of Daniel Markworth who has been placed on the long-term injury list as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

By this point, the 20-year-old had a fair idea that he was well and truly in the mix for senior selection. But it wasn’t until he took a call later in the day from a man who has been his mentor since his arrival at the Saints in 2011 that he knew his football dream had come true.

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“On Thursday night Jason Blake gave me a call and told me I was playing this week. He gave me some words of wisdom. It was pretty exciting news and I couldn’t believe it to be honest,” Ferguson said.

On Sunday Ferguson will become the 1560th player to represent St Kilda at senior level and the sixth debutant this year when he runs out against North Melbourne.

It has been a whirlwind 24 hours and he said the fact that Blake was the one to deliver the news made it all the more special.

“Ever since I’ve been at the club he’s been in my ear and shown me the way,” he said.

“Especially this year I have made more of an effort to seek him out rather than have him come to me. I want to learn off him as much as I could because he has played a lot of games.

“He’s just told me to back myself in, play my style of footy and not let the occasion get the best of me.”

Saints coach Scott Watters said Ferguson had earned his selection after some significant improvement.

“Jackson’s selection is a tribute to our recruiting team and the work of our development staff. he only started playing the game at 14 years of age and his improvement over the past 24 months has been a positive,” Watters said.

“At 195cm with good speed we think he can continue to grow and this is another step and another challenge for him.”

Ferguson has another senior teammate he can call on for guidance in the lead-up to his debut – housemate David Armitage who has already given him some handy hints.

“It’s still a couple of days before the game so he’s told me to chill out and take it easy, just do what you’d normally do and don’t over think it,” he said.

“It’s a 4.40 game and I haven’t really played much footy that late in the day. I guess I’ll follow suit with what Armo does during the day because I don’t have much experience waiting around for the game.”

Ferguson has been groomed as a tall defender ever since he arrived at St Kilda as a NSW scholarship holder. He has spent the last two seasons on the rookie list, steadily improving his game at Sandringham.

Originally from Pennant Hills, the same Sydney club that produced Lenny Hayes as well as Jarrad and Mark McVeigh, Ferguson’s journey to an AFL game has been a long time coming.

“When I got the NSW scholarship I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to become a better footballer and get me on to an AFL list. It’s been a long way from getting that scholarship to now.”