ADELAIDE youngster Jared Petrenko had just started to feel comfortable on the Telstra Dome stage in his AFL debut when the runner came out with a message he wasn’t expecting… you’re going up forward.

The dashing half-back - nicknamed ‘Pup’ - was thrust into the Crows’ attack and immediately had an impact.

Petrenko, 19, had two shots on goal, but was left lamenting what could have been after failing to covert on his rare foray up forward.

“I haven’t played up forward since I was about 14, so to get chucked up there was a bit of a shock and I probably need to do a bit more training at that end of the ground,” Petrenko said on Monday.

“I’ve done all my training with the Crows in defence and the move was sprung on me. At this stage of the year, the coaches chuck you anywhere and see what you can do.

“Hopefully, I get a few more chances up there. To kick a goal would be nice.”

Petrenko, who was officially elevated to Adelaide’s senior list in November, was arguably the most impressive of the club’s debutants against the Cats.

While he played just half the game, he had nine possessions, two marks, two and two tackles to go with his two scoring opportunities.

The Woodville-West Torrens junior is renowned for his pace, but he’s confident an extra 5kg of muscle gained this summer will add to his inside game.

“I definitely needed to get bigger and stronger. Last year, playing against the bigger bodies in the SANFL I was really light and got pushed around,” he said.

“Towards the end of last season and even this season, having put on the weight and done the training, I’ve felt a lot more comfortable and stable.”

Petrenko was named an emergency four times last season, after being promoted to the senior list in place of Rhett Biglands, and appears close to a round one AFL debut.

But the promising teenager said he was focused solely on backing up his debut with a solid performance against West Coast in Alice Springs on Friday night.

“My first goal was just to play my first game. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but, hopefully, I get a gig at some stage and then I’ll take it from there,” he said.

“Craigy [coach Neil Craig] is really good in giving opportunities to the young blokes if you do the work and impress.

“It’s a pretty exciting time to be at the club for the young guys.”