Jaeger O'Meara admits his fast-tracked initiation to the world of the AFL feels like a 'luxury' after he was given permission to represent Gold Coast in the NAB Cup.
The Western Australia-born midfielder, 17, is already well ahead of schedule given having been snared by the Suns late last year with the first pick in the underage mini-draft held to coincide with Greater Western Sydney's first year in the competition.
So prized was his signature, the Coast traded away their No. 4 national draft pick to the Giants in order to have first crack at him.
Ineligible to play AFL this year because of his tender age, O'Meara has been given special dispensation to play in the NAB Cup, which starts later this month.
The opportunity to play against AFL-level footballers will further fast-forward the superstar-in-waiting's development. Some liken him to a young Chris Judd, such is his explosive yet refined style of game.
"It's another luxury. I get a year ahead of what the other boys my age would," O'Meara said.
"I just want to get used to the speed of the game, playing with the other boys, the structures that we're going to put in place."
"It's definitely exciting. I'll have my family over here to watch as well, which is the big thing for me."
The idea for him to play in the pre-season competition was his own - perhaps an indicator towards his eager and inquisitive mindset.
"I had a chat with Bluey about it. I just asked him if it would be possible for me to play and he was all for it," he said.
"They asked, we finally got the call and I'm ecstatic. It's all about getting ready for Round 1, 2013. I'm definitely looking forward to next year."
O'Meara is 'loving' his first season with Gold Coast so far. Not only is he impressed by the laidback lifestyle on the Glitter Strip, he's also fitted in seamlessly.
"They're a great group," he said.
"I've been hanging out with different sorts of boys and nobody here really has their own separate group, they all stick together which is good."
"I've loved it so far. The club is certainly professional about the way they go about training and the boys have definitely trained very hard."
"I love the climate here as well, the beach. It all definitely suits me."
The youngster will play for the Suns reserves in the NEAFL but he is likely to spend the majority of 2012 in the gym.
That's been a big focus right across the entirety of Gold Coast's young squad this pre-season, in the words of assistant coach Ken Hinkley.
"We're probably looking for natural gain as much as anything from a physical point of view," he said.
"The boys are hopefully fitter and stronger and we think they've matured a little bit on the footy field as well."
"We know that's still going to take some time but we've certainly made some steps in how they play the game."