While it’s not quite a senior debut, just yet, highly-rated St Kilda draftee Hunter Clark grasped his first opportunity to wear the red, white and black with both hands on Friday night.

Clark, who was the Saints’ first pick in last November’s NAB AFL Draft at No. 7, made his first appearance for the club in the inaugural AFLX, along with pick No. 8 Nick Coffield, Irish rookie Ray Connellan and second-year midfielder Ed Phillips.

“It was pretty great versing some competition and putting the jumper on for the first time with the other lads,” Clark told saints.com.au after AFLX on Friday night.

“I was a bit nervous this morning. But then arriving and seeing the atmosphere and watching the other teams play was pretty awesome.

“So as soon as we got here I was pretty excited and I just couldn’t wait to get out there.”

Clark admits preparing for the hybrid version of the game was different to normal, but he just tried to keep things as normal as possible.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.

“The boys just said enjoy it and play your normal footy so I tried to do that.

“Once you’re out there, you kind of forget about the whole AFLX and just try and play your normal game.”

With his maiden pre-season nearly deposited safely in the bank, Clark is firmly in the mix to feature in the JLT Community Series.

And from there, perhaps a debut isn’t too far off.