After 27 VFL games and 18 months practicing his craft, Brad Hartman has received the shoulder tap that all young players dream of from the first moment they enter the club.  

This Sunday Hartman will join the Cats when they run out onto their home stage at Simonds Stadium to take on the Saints for Round 13 of the home and away premiership season.

The 19-year-old, who represented South Australia three times in basketball, was picked up by Geelong at number 77 in the 2012 National Draft.

During his first year at the club, Hartman became a useful member of the Geelong VFL squad and took part in last year’s grand final against Box Hill Hawks.

However, at the end of last year assistant coach Dale Amos felt the former basketballer still had work to do on his game before receiving a debut ticket.  

“He was very raw when he came to the club, so he was coming from a fair way back,” Amos told www.geelongcats.com.au

At the end of 2013 VFL season, Hartman had gathered 15 goals and an average of three tackles per game.

“He played some good footy in the VFL by the end of the year. He was quite influential playing as a small forward,” Amos said.

This year Hartman has gone from strength to strength and by Round 8 at Victoria Park the young player had earned a best on ground performance for the Cats, with 17 disposals, five tackles and seven inside-50s.

“Brad’s form has been excellent in the VFL this year, he’s probably played more in the midfield where he has demonstrated the capacity to win the ball, as well as tackle and chase and put pressure on the opposition,” Knights told Cats TV on edition 9 of VFL View.

“He is really moving forward with his football and as an ex-basketballer we’re pleased with Brad and he’s a really exciting dashing player when he gets going.”

This weekend the young Cat will finally get his chance to take the next step when he comes head-to-head with the Saints on the AFL stage.