The Portland footballer was named in Hampden’s initial squad in 2014 — his raw-but-promising ruck skills catching the eye of then-coach Nick O’Sullivan.

Fast-forward 12 months and Malcolm has assumed the mantle of the Bottle Greens’ number one ruckman.

Malcolm, 20, booked his spot in the Chris McLaren-coached outfit after a series of standout performances for the Tigers and will make his representative debut against Murray at Reid Oval tomorrow. 

“I was in the squad last year but just missed out,” he said.

“I had a couple of ordinary games coming up to the match so I missed out.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to get into the side this year.

“I don’t know what to expect, to be honest.

“I want to try and do my bit for the team and go from there and hopefully get a win. A win would be nice.”

McLaren said Malcolm, named the Tigers’ best in three of their five matches this season, was an agile tall whose tap work was a strength.

The 196-centimetre Malcolm also has experience at a higher level, having spent the 2012 season at TAC Cup club North Ballarat Rebels and  a summer training with VFL club Werribee.

“He gets around the ground pretty well and with Stauto (Stephen Staunton), Sam Cowling and Travis Graham in the forward line we have plenty of cover for him,” McLaren said.

“He is nearing 200 centimetres. Their (Murray) squad came in today and they didn’t have anyone near that big so hopefully there is an advantage there.”

Malcolm, who works on his family’s Cashmore farm, is one of Portland’s emerging stars.

He’s played 37 of a possible 41 senior games since his 2013 Hampden league debut.

“I was never a very good junior and then at 17 or 18 I started to improve and tried to keep improving and started to play reasonable footy, which is good,” Malcolm said.

“I have been working really hard on the marking part of my game.”

Portland coach Luke Crane is the Tigers’ other interleague representative.

Malcolm said the former SANFL jet was making a positive impact at Hanlon Park.

“He’s been really good for the club,” he said.

“Hopefully he stays for a few years and hopefully we can build a decent side.

“I played one year in Western Border seniors and it was more kick to contests and more old-style footy and moving to Hampden league we have had to change our style a little bit.

“Hopefully in a few years we’ll be a strong club again.”

Portland is winless after five rounds.

Malcolm said the Tigers needed to stick together if they wanted to become a Hampden league force.

“We have had a really disappointing start to the year,” he said.

“We have been pretty close in games, within 10 or 12 points, but have kicked ourselves out of it, but you get that with a young side.

“On the weekend we only had four blokes over 21.”

The Hampden-Murray senior match starts at 1.30pm tomorrow.