'Banging down the selection door' is a well-worn phrase in football and Greater Western Sydney's latest debutant could be the poster boy for the saying, if his road to the AFL is anything to go by.

19 year-old Jake Barrett has been a weekly visitor to Leon Cameron's office this season for feedback to help improve his game and, although it's taken him until round 23, Barrett has finally been given a shot at senior footy this week against Melbourne.

It's not like the boy from the small town of Temora, in the Riverina area of New South Wales, hasn't warranted selection earlier in 2015, he just found a spot hard to come by.

The Giants' midfield has been made up by the likes of Dylan Shiel, Callan Ward, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully, Devon Smith and Ryan Griffen this season, so it's easy to see why Barrett had to be patient in the NEAFL.

Taken as a NSW zone selection in the 2013 NAB AFL draft, Barrett has averaged over 28 possessions and seven tackles per game this year, and has stepped up over the past six weeks, averaging 32 touches in the reserves.

While admitting at times it's been tough being overlooked by the selectors week after week, Barrett said he always maintained his belief that he would debut in 2015.

"The coaches have been really supportive, they just said 'keep working on this and that' and I just took it on board and kept at it and eventually got my turn," Barrett said.

"Obviously you want to get frustrated sometimes but you just keep doing what you're doing each week, don't change anything and just think your time will come and keep having that good head space."

The second product of the GWS academy to debut in 2015 - after Jack Steele made his first appearance against North Melbourne in round 12 - Barrett grew up playing rugby league until he was 17; hardly surprising given second cousin Trent Barrett is a NSW Blues legend.

He picked up a Sherrin at 16 and chose to play both sports until his mother suggested Aussie rules might be his future, and since making his second love a priority, Barrett hasn't looked back.

Dual Hawthorn premiership player Luke Bruest is a first cousin, and he said both of his famous relatives have given him plenty of advice, especially in regards to being forced to wait for his chance at senior level for almost two seasons.

The rugby league background has shaped the way Barrett plays his footy, with the tough midfielder possessing a ferocious appetite for attacking the ball and the opposition.

"I was a pretty good tackler growing up so it definitely helped, and I just think that short explosive five metres to get out of that pack or step someone, I reckon that's really helped as well," Barrett said.

"Being used to being hit by bigger bodies helps because you're used to getting belted around."

Giants' midfield coach and triple Brisbane Lions premiership star Luke Power has seen Barrett's hard work up close at NEAFL level and paid tribute to the teenager's persistence.

In an exclusive chat with AFL.com.au Power - one of three inaugural GWS co-captains and a 302-game AFL champion – said that Barrett's tenacity and ability to perform at a consistently high level is something rarely seen in a 19-year old.

"It's a real credit to him, he's just a terrific young man," Power said.

"I'm sure there were times throughout the year when a lesser person would have probably turned up and said 'it's going to be too hard', but his attitude has been terrific and his character is second to none.

"That's why he gets his chance. He thoroughly deserves to play and we're really excited to see what he can do.

"He's got speed and endurance, which is a pretty important combination. You have players who have one or the other but the really good players have both.

"He'll probably start out his career as a defensive-minded midfielder, but he's shown over the past couple of years that he has the ability to develop both parts of his game."