Talented Tasmanian draftee James Leake says he can’t wait to get back to doing what he loves as he prepares to line up in GIANTS colours for the first time in the VFL on Saturday.

Taken by the club with pick 17 in last year’s draft, Leake is an exciting utility who starred on all three lines for Tasmania and the Allies at under-18 level last year to earn himself All Australian honours.

Despite his obvious talent, Leake has had to wait longer than expected to show his wares as a GIANT, with the well-built 188cm prospect yet to play a game for the club after being restricted by a persistent quad injury suffered in January.

But now fully fit and raring to go following a methodical rehab process, the Tassie teenager is set to play in his first official game as a GIANT in the club’s VFL clash with the Swans in Blacktown on Saturday morning.

“I’m just super excited to be honest. I feel like it’s been a long time coming now,” Leake said.

“It’s not how I’d envisioned the start to my career [sidelined with injury] but in saying that I feel like I’ve learnt so much in the last five or six months. Now I get the opportunity to play VFL this weekend and I’m just super excited for it.”

Despite the early hiccup, Leake is taking the positives out of the slow start to his AFL journey.

“It makes me so much more grateful,” he said.

“Coming in I probably took for granted my ability to play football but then when it’s taken away from you, it’ssomething I’ve definitely realised how much I love it.

“It’s been challenging and probably not the ideal start to my career, but I feel I’ve learnt so much about my body and recovery and all of those sorts of things which should hopefully hold me in good stead moving forward.”

Becoming known last year as a ‘Mr Fix It’, who can star anywhere on the ground, it is in the midfield that Leake is looking to make a name for himself under coach Adam Kingsley.

“I’d been training more as a midfielder in pre-season and now that I’ve transitioned back [into training from injury], that’s where I’ve been at the moment,” he said.

“I think that’s the fortunate thing about coming to a club that’s in really good position, is you’ve got so many good midfielders around you and people to learn off in dudes like Tom Green and Callan Ward. I’m just soaking it all up and just loving it.

“They’re superstars of the competition so if I can look to try and soak up as much information from them as possible then that’s going to hold me in good stead hopefully.”

Born and raised in Launceston where he won a senior state league premiership as a 16-year-old, Leake says he’sfound the transition to the Harbour City an exciting one after moving into a share house with a host of his new young teammates.

“It’s been a big transition period for me with obviously moving away from home and coming into a share house with the other draftees, but it’s been really exciting,” he said.

“Having all the other draftees living in the same house helps a lot with coming in and not knowing anyone. To be put in a house and to be able to form friendships with people who are all in a similar situation to you is something that’s really beneficial about being at a club like GWS and building those friendships is something I really value.

“It’s great to see one of the boys [Harvey Thomas] playing AFL and a few of the other boys [in the house] have been playing VFL and been going pretty well in that so hopefully we can get a few more of us pushing our name for [AFL] selection.”

Just days away from his first official hit-out in orange and charcoal, Leake could not hold back his excitement ahead of Saturday's VFL clash alongside many of his new great mates.

“I just love playing footy. It’s been the same since I was a little kid, I’ve always just loved it. So, to be able to run out there with all the boys and a few of the draftees [is exciting],” he said.

“When you live with people you get quite close with them so to be able to play with a few of your mates is something that’s really exciting for me and I’m just so happy to be back playing footy.

The GIANTS’ VFL side will take on the Swans in Blacktown on Saturday at 11:05am with entry free for all fans and all games streamed live at afl.com.au/vfl.