IF HIS post-match attitude is anything to go on, Hawthorn debutant Josh Kennedy looks set for a long career at AFL level.

Despite impressing in his first outing in the brown and gold, the man who comes from a family of Hawthorn greats wasn’t content to bask in any compliments that were directed his way.

Kennedy’s father is premiership player John Kennedy Jnr, while his grandfather John Kennedy Snr was the club’s first premiership coach and a four-time best and fairest winner.

With such esteemed footsteps to follow in, the 19 year old admitted he was feeling some pressure heading into his first senior game against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

“More than anything I’m happy just to get it out of the way and hopefully concentrate on the next game,” Kennedy said after the match.

“There’s been a lot of hype … I was a bit jumpy early and I missed a few targets with my hands and feet which I wasn’t happy with.”

Despite not being content with some of his possessions, Kennedy showed plenty of promise in his first senior call-up.

After starting on the bench he gathered 16 touches, laid three tackles and sent the ball inside the Hawks’ forward 50 zone three times – although he hopes he can improve in coming weeks.

“I was definitely really nervous, I’ve been waiting for a long time and it’s finally come so I’m very happy.

“But it was a game where I felt a bit more comfortable and worked my way into it which was good.”

Coach Alastair Clarkson showed enormous faith in the youngster, who has been impressive at VFL level for Box Hill in recent weeks.

After just seven minutes he entered the fray, joining two of the game’s biggest names in the centre square.

“I went straight to the midfield with [Sam] Mitchell and [Brad] Sewell,” Kennedy said.

“They were great and they brought me into the game, I definitely felt confident having those two beside me in the middle.

“They were sharing the load and just telling me ‘your ball, you’ll get this one Joey’ or whatever, so yeah they really helped try to bring me into the game.”

Kennedy knows that with names such as Hodge, Crawford and Lewis set to return to the Hawthorn midfield in coming weeks, he will have his work cut out in retaining his place in the senior line-up.

But with an unquenchable desire to improve his game, one suspects he will see plenty more action at AFL level.

“It is tough but I just have to keep plugging away.”