ESTABLISHING your place as an AFL footballer is a big task.
For some young players, it would be like being Jack climbing the beanstalk.
When you reach the pinnacle - an AFL debut - there is a often an expectation you will face challenges.
Let's call them 'giants'.
How often do football pundits conjure imagery of boys playing men when a young player battles a well-drilled, battle-hardened senior opponent for the first time?
For Cameron O'Shea, it has taken two seasons to cement his place in Port Adelaide's starting lineup.
Cameron O'Shea profile
He has faced his fair share of challenges, none greater than being dropped to the SANFL early last year and forced to earn his spot in the Power's line up by playing for South Adelaide.
Just when he had been recalled to the Power to play Geelong in Round 14, he suffered another setback - not form this time, but injury.
Stress fractures in his foot saw him sit out the latter stages of the season with only four AFL matches to his name for 2012.
It was a tough year.
It was his giant year.
And this year - so far at least - he has slain it.
A strong pre-season earned him a place in Port Adelaide's starting 22 against Melbourne in Round 1 and he hasn't looked back since.
O'Shea has played every game in 2013 and featured regularly in the best players.
Round 12: A Giant performance
Although he's tallied disposals in the mid-teens for most of the year, O'Shea's career breakout came on Sunday against Greater Western Sydney.
Match highlights
At times looking like a man possessed, his intense running ability and footy smarts were on display.
O'Shea has been one of the Power's best ball-users this year - up with the likes of the evergreen Kane Cornes - and he was duly rewarded with eight votes from the coaches in the AFLCA Champion Player Award polling for the match.
Disposals are usually a good indicator of a player's contribution to his team.
Teams that win the possession count generally win games if they aren't 'burning the ball' and the same can be said for players.
With 30 possessions at 90 per cent efficiency - a whopping 27 effective touches - O'Shea's contribution is clear.
Number Crunch
But he kicked two goals as well, and his tackling and small defensive efforts all combined to make for a resounding performance for the 21-year-old Victorian.
These are not flash-in-the-pan numbers either - he has been consistent all year - and if his form continues this way he could put himself in the mix for a gong at the club's end of season awards.
He, like his teammates, will face a few more giants in the next month, their names are Sydney, Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn and they're all at the top of the 18-team beanstalk.
But it's players like Cam O'Shea who are firming as the next generation of senior players at Port Adelaide and there will be some out there hoping they will feature in the club's next tilt for a golden egg...
