Debuting so early in the season is not something Marcus Windhager envisaged due to a lack of belief. Instead, it was because he was ready to put a line through Season 2022 altogether.

A bulging disc in his lower back – not too dissimilar from the setback which sidelined Jack Bytel in his draft year – incurred just before the 2021 National Draft threatened to park the youngster for the season, confining him to months of onerous gym recovery with no on-field action remotely in sight.

Even just before Christmas of last year, an operation to repair the disc seemed the most likely course of action. His future debut looked destined for 2023 at the absolute earliest.

Going hell for leather at training and during his NAB League campaign for Sandringham Dragons was one of the traits which appealed to prospective clubs who had eyes on picking up the versatile midfielder, but the overload and strain on his body was almost to his detriment.

It ended up getting to a point where he couldn’t train, couldn’t run in the two-kilometre time trial at the Draft Combine and couldn’t show recruiters what he was capable of.

Windhager ultimately joined St Kilda with pick No. 47 at last year’s National Draft, with the club matching a bid from Geelong to secure the PURA Next Generation Academy graduate, but his playing future for 2022 remained clouded.

“To be honest, I was pretty certain that I was going to need back surgery. It was pretty daunting to go through that process,” Windhager told saints.com.au.

“I ended up getting drafted but didn’t think I’d play at all in my first year. (Strength & Conditioning Coach) Marcus Krygger, he just kept reassuring me that I just had to start ticking off small milestones and be patient. He really made that feel like it was a big thing.

“Ticking off running, contact work, ground balls, I just kept on getting better slowly, and by February I started joining training a small bit.

“Kryg, the physios and the other gym coaches, they helped me out a lot. Right now is not somewhere I thought I’d be in November and December.”

That place is part of St Kilda’s line-up to take on Hawthorn, with Windhager set to make his debut on the hallowed MCG turf this Sunday as the Saints eye a third consecutive win.

The 18-year-old rocketed into selection calculations following a standout performance in the VFL this weekend just gone, collecting 31 disposals, a game-high 11 clearances and two goals in heavily unfavourable conditions.

When delivering the news to Windhager yesterday afternoon, Brett Ratten made particular reference to how the on-baller’s selection had come as the product nose-to-the-grindstone approach over the past few months.

Getting the call-up to senior level yesterday afternoon came as a “pretty good surprise” for Windhager, who was blindsided by the fact despite his starring role last Sunday.

“I thought all I can do really is play my best, just knock on the door and ask the question if I’m good enough to play at AFL level,” Windhager said.

“I was pretty happy with how I played and being played in the midfield a bit more, which is something I love to do.

“The couple of practice games we had at VFL level in March, I wasn’t overly happy with how I played. I wanted to give – and felt like I could give – a little bit more. When that opportunity came against Casey and Richmond in the VFL, I just thought ‘yeah, I’ve got to go now, got to put my foot down’.

“That’s all I could do on the weekend playing VFL, just give my best effort. I gave everything I could.

“I’ve just got to play my best footy and the only way to do that is just by cracking in. I guess for me, that comes off preparation before the game and making sure I’m doing everything to get in the right headspace.

“I feel like my best footy comes off the back of contest and competitiveness and just cracking in.”

Into the history books

Very rarely do debutants write themselves into the record books before their first game, but Windhager has done just that.

The 18-year-old draftee will entwine his name with St Kilda history when he pulls on the red, white and black guernsey this Sunday, with the Saints – pending no late changes – set to field a club-record seven Indigenous players against Hawthorn.

Bradley Hill, Paddy Ryder, Jade Gresham, Ben Long, Jarrod Lienert and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will join debutant Windhager in setting the new milestone, which sits just behind Fremantle’s VFL/AFL record tally of eight Indigenous players in the one side from Round 10, 2017.

Windhager is of the Ben Lomond Tribe, which is Plangermaireener Nation in Tasmania, through his mother’s side.

“It’s still pretty surreal,” Windhager said.

“It’s definitely something all the boys are really proud of. I wasn’t sure what to think last night, but I’m over the moon and I can’t wait for Sunday.”

An hour before Thursday’s squad announcement meeting, Hill was on the front foot to ensure football and media staff were aware of the potential club record for Sunday.

Hill was part of Fremantle’s milestone outfit in Round 10, 2017 which saw eight players of Indigenous heritage take to the field from the one side.

“To be a part of this weekend having seven of us brothers playing is going to be awesome,” Hill told saints.com.au.

“With three per cent of the population (being Indigenous) in Australia, to have 30 per cent playing in your team in one day, it’s pretty crazy numbers.

“It was pretty significant to me (to be part of) breaking the record for Freo with the most Indigenous players in a game, and now I get to do it again this weekend.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up just over three per cent of Australia’s total population, however account for over 10 per cent of players currently in the AFL system.

That figure sits at 4.5 per cent in the AFLW, which is only in its infancy stages – and is expected to grow considerably – after launching its inaugural season in 2017.

Including Category B rookies Jack Peris and Josiah Kyle, St Kilda carries nine players with Indigenous heritage – a total of 20 per cent – on its current list.

Five of those players – Peris, Kyle, Windhager, Wanganeen-Milera and Lienert – were added to St Kilda’s ranks during this year’s draft/trade period.

As to whether Hill saw St Kilda’s young Indigenous cohort crack into the senior side so early in the piece, it didn’t come as a big surprise.

“Probably looking at the players we picked up, you probably thought it definitely could happen sooner rather than later,” Hill said.

“Me, Gresh, Paddy and Longy have been playing for a while with each other, and then with a couple of the new boys coming in, we knew they weren’t too far off from playing senior footy.

“I reckon Marcus is going to be a pretty lively type of player. He’s definitely got a good work rate and will be able to get to a lot of contests.

“He’s explosive, he’s got a good engine on him, can run all day and then he’s got some speed and some other skills as well. I’m looking forward to running out with him.”

Three mates with the future at their feet

Windhager will be the fifth new player to feature in St Kilda colours this season.

Best mate Mitch Owens, Jack Hayes and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera all featured on the team-sheet in Round 1 – the latter as the unused medical sub – before Jarrod Lienert added to his previous 23-game tally from Port Adelaide in Round 2.

Along with Windhager, Wanganeen-Milera and Owens have the potential to form the foundation of St Kilda’s next crop of promising midfielders.

With Wanganeen-Milera – taken with pick No. 11 at last year’s National Draft – already showing the signs of being a classy outside runner for well into the future, Owens continuing to build his game after a promising pre-season spent shadowing Jack Steele and Windhager following right behind, it’s a midfield trio that has Saints fans salivating.

“You three will be great mates over a long period of time,” coach Brett Ratten said in yesterday’s team meeting to the three young Saints.

“To think in the first three to four weeks of the AFL Season you’ve all played an AFL game is unbelievable.

“You should be so proud of what you’ve done, and this is just a snapshot. I know you’re going to do yourself proud, us proud and your family proud.”

Windhager has become firm friends with the South Australian Wanganeen-Milera since arriving at the club, while Owens has been his side from the Beaumaris Sharks, to Sandringham Dragons to St Kilda.

“It’s awesome, I was super proud of Mitch and Nasiah to make their debuts so early on in the year against Collingwood. They put in heaps of hard work and it was great to see them running out together.

“We’ve built a pretty good friendship and I’m thankful that I’ve been able to go through the whole process of footy with those boys.”

While the debate about whether a Friday night debut against Collingwood tops a Sunday afternoon, record-breaking affair against Hawthorn at the MCG hasn't come up between the circle of friends, Windhager is still pinching himself that he'll be running out on a football field just months after his season appeared done for.

“They’re both pretty good, we haven’t really talked about which one would be better, but I still can’t believe I’ll be playing on the MCG,” Windhager laughed.

“It’s something I’m very excited for.”