Charlie Cameron’s exciting debut against Collingwood on Thursday night was just the “tip of the iceberg”, according to teammate Patrick Dangerfield.

Cameron’s statistical return of 13 possessions and one goal don’t accurately reflect his impact on the game. The 19-year-old used his electrifying speed to pile enormous defensive pressure on the Magpies defenders. He laid five tackles, including one that set the tone in the opening minute, and put in repeat efforts to chase and harass, forcing the Pies into error.

As well as kicking his first-ever goal to put the Crows 13 points ahead late in the third quarter, the livewire forward also had five score involvements.

Dangerfield said Cameron, who has a limited football background, had enormous upside.  

“We’ve only seen the beginning from ‘Jets’. He did some terrific things tonight, but going by what we’ve seen at training, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. He’s going to be a pretty special player for us,” Dangerfield said after the game.

“Wait until Charlie gets a bit more confidence, he’s going to be an absolute nightmare. Eddie (Betts), Charlie, Tex (Walker), Joshy (Jenkins), Pods (James Podsiadly) and Matty Wright … it’s going to be a pretty potent and damaging forward line.

“When they’re all firing – look out.”

Cameron was recruited from WAFL club Swan Districts with Adelaide’s first pick (No.7 overall) in last year’s AFL Rookie Draft.

As a schoolboy growing up in Queensland, Cameron excelled at both rugby league and union. He also showed promise in baseball, which took him to the US. But when his family relocated to West Australia for work at the end of 2011, Cameron decided to try his hand at Australian Rules – a game he’d only previously played for a year at age 15.

Cameron went out to Swan Districts expecting to earn his stripes in the colts, but after impressing in his first-ever pre-season was selected in the senior team for Round One. His rise was rapid, selected in the team to represent West Australia at the Under-18 National Championships.

Read more about Charlie Cameron’s story from the Crows recruiters.

The Crows considered picking Cameron with their last pick in the AFL National Draft, but snared another impressive forward, Riley Knight, instead and made Cameron their first priority in the Rookie Draft. Cameron got an early taste of AFL in the Crows’ opening NAB Challenge match and impressed in five SANFL games, kicking nine goals to be Club’s leading goalkicker at State League level.

The skilful teenager was promoted to Adelaide’s senior list on Tuesday in place of captain Nathan van Berlo, who is on the long-term injury list.

He couldn’t have asked for a bigger stage to make his debut on.

A crowd of 50,051 people turned out to watch the fierce-tackling Crows record their first win over Collingwood in five years. It was Adelaide’s first-ever ‘home’ Thursday night game and the first night match at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval.

But the quietly-spoken young Crow was far from overawed by the occasion.

“It was an amazing feeling. I love it out there, every moment. I’m glad I got the opportunity,” Cameron said.

“It took a little while to adjust to the speed. But probably halfway through the first quarter, I got used to it and was okay. I pride myself on my defensive pressure and try to use my leg speed.

“Everything else came with it, which was good.”

Cameron’s first goal sent the crowd, who didn’t take long to anoint its newest cult hero, into raptures. He helped force a turnover up the ground and then ran hard to get on the end of some bullish team play for the Crows to run into an open goal.

“It just came to me,” a modest Cameron said of his first AFL goal.

The Thursday night blockbuster was also Cameron’s first game with mentor and housemate, Eddie Betts. Cameron said Betts had been an enormous influence on him.

“I loved playing with Eddie. He’s a great mentor for me,” Cameron said.

“He’s good to live with. He’s showed me the ropes in terms of how to prepare as a professional. Yeah, I love him.”

Charlie’s parents, Charles and Virginia, made the trip from Newman in the Pilbara region of WA to watch their son play his first AFL game. Members of his extended family were also at Adelaide Oval, including his uncle who shed a tear after his nephew slotted his first goal.

“Mum and dad and some of my family are over for the weekend. Mum and Dad work in the mines in Newman in WA, so they came a fair way to be here tonight which is good,” Cameron said.