Still, the former Eastern Ranges onballer had only been at Alberton a minute, and knew he would have to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches before jumping the queue of older and more experienced players waiting for a chance to impress.

Fast-forward eight months, and the unassuming O'Shea has already made 12 AFL appearances.

The 192cm utility has played more games than any other player selected outside the first round in last year's draft, with the exception of West Coast priority pick Jack Darling (13 games) and mature-age Carlton recruit Nick Duigan, who has also played 12 games in his debut season.

O'Shea has achieved another feat, playing more games in his debut season than any first-year player taken with pick No.52 in the draft in the last decade.

"I didn't really expect to play many games early on, or any at all, but Matty gave me an opportunity during the NAB Cup," O'Shea said.

"As one of the later draft picks, I don't know if the club had much expectation of me in terms of coming in and playing straight away.

"I've definitely exceeded what I set out to do this year."

O'Shea has displayed marked improvement since making his debut against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium in round one.

He showed glimpses across half-back in the opening month of the season, but looked jittery at times in a defence under siege, prompting calls that he wasn't ready for AFL and should be given time to develop in the local league.

However, Primus persisted with the teenager and O'Shea has rewarded his coaches for their faith, improving with every game.

"I've had a couple of down games, but getting a game each week is really helping me develop," O'Shea said.

"I didn't play that well in the game against Geelong [in round three] and going into the next week I wasn't sure whether I'd be dropped or not.

"I was really grateful Matty stuck with me."

O'Shea has spent more time on a wing and in the midfield over the past month as the club experiments with and develops players in different positions.

The endurance runner, who finished second in the 3km time trial at the 2010 Draft Combine, was assigned the task of playing on West Coast star Andrew Embley when the two teams met at Patersons Stadium in round 13.

He limited the Norm Smith Medallist to 17 disposals before being forced to the bench with severe cramp.

"It was a tough game. I like to think that [I'm pretty fit], but I started cramping up in the third quarter because I'd been chasing him [Embley] all day," O'Shea said.

"I learned how hard he works off the ball and how he can find the ball so easily.

"There were times I thought he wasn't going to get it, but then he'd go that bit extra and end up with the ball."

O'Shea is quiet and modest, but has won plenty of admirers at Port Adelaide for his work ethic.

"Even if you’re not finding a lot of the ball you can always run hard to get back and help the defenders or get to a contest and lay a tackle," he said.

Despite missing two games through injury, he ranks in the top 10 at the club in marks, tackles and one-percenters, and has developed an uncanny knack of using the check-side kick in general play.

He's had a tough initiation to AFL in a team that has won only two matches this season, but is already starting to show the benefits of learning on the job.

"All the boys are behind Matty and support the path he's taken … we'll be better for it in the long run," he said.

Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill