The two young Wimmera footballers were picked up in last year’s national draft and have now taken another step in their journeys.

After being taken at pick 17 by the Brisbane Lions Berry needed to overcome niggling injuries to force his way into the side.

Those injuries kept him out of preseason matches but strong performances for the Lions in the North East Australian Football League saw him selected in the senior side on Thursday.

Coach Chris Fagan told the Horsham Saints product he would debut in front of the playing group.

“It is a great feeling when the coach looks you straight in the eye and tell you you are playing,” Berry said.

“It was weird because I was excited and nervous at the same time.”

Speaking before the game on Sunday morning Berry said he was not yet nervous but he might be once he gets to the ground.

Playing against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium provided an opportunity for plenty of his family and friends to watch live.

“It’s great from that point of view because a lot of my friends are at university in Melbourne so they can just pop down to the ground,” he said.

“And to do it alongside Hugh McCluggage who is one of my best mates just adds to it even more.”

Berry and McCluggage made their way through the Rebels pathway, were classmates at Ballarat’s Clarendon College and are in their first year at the Lions.

On Sunday they lined up next to each other, Berry in the centre and McCluggage on the wing.

Berry reserved a special mention for his family who have helped him reach this stage of his career.

“It’s been a big journey to get to this point from where I have come,” he said.

“A lot of people have helped me along the way and my debut is a day in recognition of them.

“Especially my family; my dad has been a massive person to have supporting me.

“The sacrifices he’s made to send me to boarding school and make the most of it. And my two brothers as well have always been there to support me.”

A little over an hour after Berry ran on first his first game at Etihad Stadium Williamson did the same for Carlton at the MCG. He also had to wait a little bit longer to confirm his debut after he was selected on an extended Carlton bench on Thursday.

By Friday he and his family knew he would debut. Williamson’s father Allister said it was a special moment for Tom to be selected.

“We are very proud of him and what he has achieved,” he said.

“It is something he has been working towards for a long time and his hard work has got him this far, hopefully he can go out there and just play his role and do well.”

The 18-year-old was selected with pick 61 in the 2016 AFL National Draft and played one preseason game for the Blues before playing some practice matches with Carlton’s VFL affiliate Northern Blues.

A group of family and close friends travelled down to watch the game from the grandstand, something Allister has been doing since he got drafted.

“We go down and watch him every week and we think he has been working hard and improving,” he said.

“All the coaches have been really supportive and coach Brendon Bolton has been really positive with his feedback to Tom.”

Prior to the game Williamson said it will be a mix of emotions when he watched his son run out onto the ground for his first senior match.

“Nervous, anxiety and just hoping he goes out and plays his role and does what is expected during the game,” he said.

“Everything he has done to this stage has been really professional, hopefully he can take it all in his stride.

“The Rebels have been a big part of that and helping him to prepare for this, so they deserve a fair bit of credit as well.”

The Ararat product started his junior football career in Ararat and Rats president David Jennings said he could always see something special with Tom.

“I have seen him from auskick right through to now and he has always been driven and had really good coordination,” he said.

He is very determined and seemed to have that extra special focus when it comes to football and always left no stone unturned.

“The club is very proud of him, it is a terrific occasion and we are all hoping he does really well.”