When the 19-year-old runs out on to the Sydney Showground for his debut against North Melbourne on Saturday, he will remember how close his career was to being over before it began.

In May, 2013 - about a month before the under-18 national championships - Steele dislocated his knee while training with the NSW/ACT team at Coffs Harbour.

This was his draft year, the time talented young players from across the country aim to catch the eye of AFL scouts.

"At that stage, I thought it was over, it was done, having a chance to play in the AFL," Steele said.

"We were indoors because it was raining and I went to change directions in the gym.

"There was a bit of leakage on the floor and I changed directions and slid out.

"All my weight was on that leg and the knee dislocated."

Coming from Canberra, Steele already had the odds stacked against him to get drafted.

He was aiming to be the first player from the ACT to be selected since Jason Tutt by the Western Bulldogs in 2008.

St Kilda forward Josh Bruce would have also been likely taken in the draft had he not already been taken by GWS as the club's inaugural player signed in 2011.

Steele returned disheartened after getting the results of his scan.

He knew the dislocated knee would put him out of the rest of the season, denying him the chance to impress AFL recruiters.

NSW/ACT under-18 coach Jason Saddington was waiting for Steele when he returned to the team hotel.

As they say in the classics, Saddington made Steele an offer he couldn't refuse.

"He offered me to play next year straight away," Steele said.

"That helped and that set the goal for me to look forward to and get my body right for then. That really drove me from then on."

The incentive worked a treat.

Steele hit the ground running last year to have an impressive under-18 national championships and with Belconnen in the NEAFL.

That led to interest from several AFL clubs.

North Melbourne bid pick No. 15 for his services, but the Giants secured him with selection 24 having been part of their academy.

Steele started his football as an eight-year-old with the Gungahlin Jets in 2004.

A couple of years later he moved to the Belconnen Cats then on to the Belconnen Magpies in the NEAFL.

"I had always made the rep teams, but coming from Canberra, you never set it as being realistic to get picked up," Steele said.

"It's rare. You want to get drafted, but it's never that easy or realistic."

Steele was ushered into the Giants academy not long after it was established.

He's the first graduate to continue through to the AFL system, setting a path the Giants hope will reap dividends for years to come.

The Giants are in the fourth year of a 10-year agreement with the ACT Government to play four games per year in Canberra.

If Steele can keep his place in the Giants team for the next few weeks, he'll be able to play in front of family and friends at Manuka Oval.

But you can't blame him for not looking ahead to the round 17 clash with the Geelong Cats.

"That would be very nice, but I'm just going to focus on this week and the week after that and the week after that," Steele said. "Keep playing my role and doing the team thing and hopefully I can play a home game."