HE’S UNFLAPPABLE at the best of times, Lachie Cowan.

But even the young Tasmanian admitted to some pre-match nerves when he was readying himself for his first senior game of the year.

It wasn’t just any first game, either. Directly replacing an All Australian across half back and coming up against the most potent offence in the competition, Cowan would have his work cut out for him.

But the second-year Blue held his own on Saturday afternoon, contributing 14 disposals in his eighth career game as the team emerged with a big 19-point win against the previously undefeated Giants.

It was six days beforehand where Cowan well and truly put his hand up, 24 hours after Adam Saad and Mitch McGovern went down. With a best-on-ground performance for the Carlton Reserves under his belt, there was little doubt about who was going to be called upon.

Michael Voss said as much in his press conference the day before the GWS clash.

“In some ways, it’s unfortunate we lose some important players, but there’s also a young man coming in that’s going to play a lot of games of football for the Carlton Football Club,” Voss said.

“Being able to have Lachie come in, he’s been in some really good form over the last couple of weeks. He had some presence last year in the team, he’s gone back and worked on his game really hard, and he’s come in and will bring some real power.”

And while Cowan was replacing Saad, it was the man behind the ‘woof’ who was helping the man who receives the ‘moo’ in the preparation for the game.

Then, he had some senior players alongside him on game day to coach him through.

“Very important. Even ‘Saady’ doing vision throughout the week with me, he had my confidence up going into the game.

“I put it down to the boys around me getting their job done. Especially 'Newy', ‘Boydy’, big ‘Weiters’ — connecting with them was really easy today. It’s a credit to them.”

Having conversations with assistant coach Aaron Hamill, VFL Senior Coach Luke Power and development coach Tom Lonergan during the week, there was plenty of preparation for Cowan in the lead-up

And yet, the main thing he was looking forward to to ease the nerves was getting physical against his opponents.

That should come as no surprise to anyone who’s watched Cowan play his football to date — and a contest with GWS star Tom Green said it all.

“First game this year, there were a few nerves. I feel like you just need one big hit, a mark or a tackle to get into it.

“I was lucky enough to sneak a nice little mark in there and get rid of the nerves.”