The North Warrnambool Eagles export played 19 matches for Casey – the Demons’ state league affiliate – this season after arriving at Melbourne as a raw small forward prospect.

Johnstone, 19, said a positive meeting with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin gave him confidence he could earn a senior call up.

“In my exit interview, Simon said if I work hard and keep going the way I’m going, there’s no reason why I couldn’t push for a spot and hold my own spot in the senior team next year which was good to hear,” he said from his family’s Ilowa property during his off-season break.

“That’s something for me personally, to try and crack into that senior team.”

Johnstone – one of seven Hampden exports drafted as part of a record-breaking batch for the league in 2016 – said playing for Casey was the ideal stepping stone.

The former Scotch College boarder and Oakleigh Chargers premiership player missed just one game, when he was rested on the eve of the finals, during an otherwise solid campaign.

“I thought it was up and down a bit. My backend of the season was a lot better,” he said.

“At the start of it my head was still spinning a bit, just trying to get to know the game plan.

“After that it felt a bit more comfortable because the game plan came naturally.

“It’s a massive step up. I went in trying to be a sponge and soak up everything I could.”

Melbourne drafted Johnstone for his ferocious tackling and goal nous.

The 179-centimetre prospect was used in an unfamiliar wing-midfield role throughout his first season at the Demons – a challenge he relished.

“They’ve given me a few things (to focus on) – work on endurance and getting that to AFL standard, repeat sprint efforts and obviously I know what I need to work on skill-wise,” Johnstone said.

“You need to take everything up to that next level because you’ll soon find yourself behind if you’re not working hard.”