Martin Clarke pictured at a Collingwood training session

The 19-year-old former Down minor GAA star chalked up 20 disposals as his side beat Sydney Swans 76-57 at the Telstra Stadium.

Clarke only signed an AFL contract last August and his rate of development is said to have "amazed" Collingwood.

He made his Collingwood debut in a practice game against the Sydney outfit in February.

Since then, his development has also been helped by a spell with Collingwood's affiliate team Williamstown in the VFL.

Clarke told BBC Sport that his form "has been pretty good" but he acknowledged that he had been surprised by his call-up.

"I was just doing weights after training on Wednesday and Mick Malthouse, the manager of Collingwood, just came up to me and said:'You're in.

"My form has been pretty good but Collingwood have been unlucky with injuries and a chance opened up for me."

Clarke is the seventh Collingwood player to make his AFL debut this season, following Daniel Nicholls, Shannon Cox, Brad Dick, Alan Toovey, Tyson Goldsack and Danny Stanley.

He was first noticed by Collingwood's national recruiting manager Derek Hine playing Gaelic football for St Louis Kilkeel in Belfast in a MacRory Cup match in 2005.