AFTER a nervous debut against the Sydney Swans, Port Adelaide draftee Ben Jacobs took a moment to gather himself in the changerooms ahead of the club's clash with Fremantle at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
 
"Just relax," he told himself.

Jacobs' first game at the SCG last weekend was largely a blur, but the parts he did remember he didn't like.

The Power had lost the game by 10 goals after trailing by just nine points at half time, and his trademark foot skills had deserted him in the most important game of his young career.

The 19-year-old, who ranked fourth in the kicking efficiency test at the NAB AFL Draft Combine last September, had 12 kicks against the Swans but only a few hit the intended target.

He was disappointed with his performance but instead of dropping confidence he turned to positive reinforcement.

"I was pretty nervous before the game last week and I probably let that get to me a bit," Jacobs said.

"There was a big build up and we were in Sydney for a while before the game. Your mind goes 100 miles an hour because you’ve been dreaming of that moment, of playing AFL football your whole life.

"I rushed when I got the ball, which was disappointing. I tried to put it in perspective this week and reminded myself that my composure and ball use are my strengths.

"I told myself just to relax, enjoy my footy and do what I got drafted to do."

Jacobs might have a future in psychology after his dramatic upturn in form in his second game against Fremantle.

The skilful defender/midfielder amassed 22 possessions, five marks and one goal to be one of Port Adelaide's better players in the 52-point loss.

He looked composed and his kicking radar was back on.

The performances of Jacobs and other inexperienced players Jasper Pittard, Simon Phillips, Andrew Moore and Cam O’Shea gave the Port Adelaide faithful hope.

"We saw our future today," coach Matthew Primus said after the game.

Primus has been criticised for blooding young players ahead of their time this season.

Jacobs, who missed the opening month of the season because of a pre-season bout of glandular fever, admitted he was "lucky" to get an opportunity after only three games in the SANFL but said he was determined to make the most of it.

"Jasper kicked a nice goal today and Flipper [Phillips] looked dangerous," he said.

"It's good to see the young boys pulling their weight at times. A lot of [young] guys are getting games, but that's the path we're heading down and we have to [rebuild] if we want to challenge for a flag in the next few years."