COMING into an AFL club is a daunting experience for any young player and draftees often find comfort in each other in the early stages.

Spare a thought then for Jed McEntee, a self-confessed shy person, who was plucked out of the SANFL mid-season and expected to make his mark with Port Adelaide with just six months on his contract.

But make his mark is exactly what he did, showing enough speed, work ethic and tackling pressure to earn himself a one-year contract extension.

Without a full AFL pre-season in 2021, McEntee is making up for lost time, spending the off-season working with Port Adelaide’s high-performance staff to build his aerobic capacity, strength and muscle.

And now he is out to surprise some people.

“I’m a local boy so I stayed in SA the whole time, really just catching up with friends and family and working on my footy because I was only a mid-season (rookie) so I’ve got a lot to catch up on,” McEntee told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“It’s been weird coming in midway through the season. Coming in by yourself is a bit difficult, especially me being a shy person but I’ve really loved it so far, I think just learning from the more experienced guys, which has been a big key for me.

“(The coaches) were pretty happy with me (in the end of season reviews). I think the main thing was just to get more involved around the group and really develop that half forward type role because I’m a pressure player so I’ve got to develop that and just come out in the pre-season and try and surprise a few blokes.”

Recruited from Sturt with the 13th pick in the mid-season rookie draft, McEntee’s work rate endeared him to his new teammates and the 20-year-old broke into the AFL side to make his debut as the medical substitute in the Round 18 win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

McEntee averaged six tackles and three clearances per SANFL game in 2021 playing at half forward and at times in the midfield.

He finished the season strongly in the SANFL, averaging 18 disposals and nearly two goals per game in the last three matches.

A new contract and a taste of the AFL has him wanting more, and he has set his sights on repaying the club’s faith in him.

“It’s very exciting,” McEntee said of his contract extension. “Coming in mid-season was pretty daunting but to get that extra year and start from pre-season is good for me and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I don’t really look too far into the future. For me it’s just to enjoy each day at the club and try to learn as much as I can.

“That little taste (of the AFL) was more of a boost to my confidence but I think I’ve got what it takes to play (at the level), I just need to really believe in what I can do.”