Preparing for his first AFL game, teenager Jack Ison convinced his veteran Carlton teammate Zac Williams to take part in a special dance.
Ison's debut started in memorable fashion, and it only got better from there as the Blues snapped a seven-game losing streak with a stirring 12-point win over the Western Bulldogs.
The 19-year-old, Carlton's first Next Generation Academy recruit, was central to the first match of the post-Michael Voss era.
Despite a 12-year age gap, Ison and Williams instantly connected via their Indigenous heritage.
For Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the pair - and Bulldogs forward Arty Jones - performed a pre-game dance during the Welcome To Country ceremony.
"We actually spoke about whether we were going to do the dancing ... he used to do that stuff before he got drafted, and he was super excited to do it and talked me into it, because I was umming and ahing," Williams told AAP.
"I'm not as good a dancer as he is.
"To have a moment like that, I know Jack loved it, and Arty as well.Â
"That's a special moment for me and I'll hold that in my heart for the rest of my life."
While Ison immediately impressed with his confidence and composure pre-game, he translated that to on the field.
With Carlton trailing by nine points at three-quarter-time, the exciting forward stepped up with a superb seven-disposal final term.
Ison's first AFL goal, with seven minutes remaining, effectively sealed the Blues' emotional win.
"I love Jack, and I think he was feeding off the energy from the fans all night," Williams said.
"I'm so glad that he kicked that goal, all the fans got on board, and it was super loud once it went through.
"It was a pretty special moment, not only for him, but for everyone involved.
"The great thing about Jack is he's always asking questions, always bugging you on what he can do better, and that's why I think he got a game tonight."
Interim Carlton coach Josh Fraser believes Ison will excite Blues supporters for years to come.
"The way he was able to stand up in that last quarter as well ... when the game was quite hot," Fraser said.
"He's a bit of a cult figure already, which is fantastic, and his game's only going to continue to get better."
