St Kilda rookie Nick O’Kearney says the debut seasons of former rookie Jack Sinclair and livewire forward Jack Lonie have provided him with a source of motivation ahead of his first season.

After being overlooked in last November’s National Draft, the All Australian under-18 was quickly scooped up by the Saints with selection No. 5 in the Rookie Draft, and has since made a strong impression through his appetite for work and professionalism.

Now more than two months into his time at Linen House Centre, O’Kearney revealed he has picked the brains of Sinclair and Lonie, who played 18 games and 16 respectively in 2015, explaining that their feats have demonstrated that the bridge between underage football and the elite level can be crossed.

Although, the 18-year-old inside midfielder is under no illusion, the task ahead will be challenging. But it’s one he is up for.

“It definitely does serve as some really good motivation. Him [Sinclair] and Jack Lonie played a few games last year and they not only played, but had a very good impact on the group as well,” O’Kearney told saints.com.au.

“Those two have pulled me aside a few times and said: ‘You’ve got to give the coaches a reason not to play you’.

“They’ve been really good with helping me out and taking me through their journey last year, what they did and what they thought worked well for them. So it definitely does give you hope.”

The transition from part-time footballer to full-time professional has seen time disappear before O’Kearney eyes as his life has been consumed with training, eating and sleeping since he landed on the Saints’ doorstep.

The task of backing up day after day and managing his body ahead of the next session has been his biggest challenge so far, but it’s something the 18-year-old has taken in his stride.

“Two months in, it’s gone pretty quick so far, I can’t believe it. It only seems like a couple of weeks ago that I was getting on the plane to Queensland for the training camp,” O’Kearney said.

“It’s been an awesome experience. It’s been challenging but I knew coming in that it was both going to be a challenge and a good opportunity.

“The biggest challenge has been just backing up day in day out. Obviously coming from an environment where you’re training three nights a week and going to school, that’s been the main thing.

“Just fronting up each day at the club and just the preparation that goes along with that, just making sure that your body’s fine for the next session.”

With the Saints entering the business end of the pre-season, the team will play an intra-club match next Friday night at Trevor Barker Oval, ahead of St Kilda’s first NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne on February 20.