When Harry Perryman debuts for the Giants against Richmond on Saturday he'll become the second Collingullie product to play in the top league, following in the footsteps of GWS teammate Matthew Kennedy.

Perryman, like Kennedy, came through the GWS Academy and was taken with pick No.14 of last year's National Draft. Adelaide initially selected the youngster who can play through the midfield and off half back, but the Giants matched their bid.

Collingullie is a tiny village on the Sturt Highway, 26 kilometres north-west of Wagga Wagga boasting a school, general store and a pub. Perryman predicted most of its 400 inhabitants would make the trek to Western Sydney for the Tigers clash.

"They'll probably all be here – they're pretty keen I think," he said.

"It's obviously pretty special, this is always what you want to do, play an AFL game. I can't wait to run out with the boys on Saturday.

"I always knew it was going to be a hard team to get into, there's some great players in this side so I've just had to put my head down and keep working."

Perryman will be playing alongside one of his idols, Heath Shaw, a man he watched closely growing up as a Collingwood supporter and the man who acted as his mentor while he was in the academy last season.

"Yes we've got a few injuries, but he deserves his spot in the team, it's great to have him on board and I taught him everything he knows," Shaw said.

"He's a natural footballer and that gets lost a little bit these days. Everyone's looking for the athlete and the guy with the washboard abs who can jump and mark it but Harry, he's a rugged footballer.

"He reads the ball really well and he's very skilful and I'm looking forward to playing alongside him on the weekend.

"It's a basic game and the worst thing you can do when bringing young guys into AFL level is confuse them and give them bucket loads of information.

"We just like to keep it really simple," Shaw said. "They got drafted for a reason because they can play footy, we just want to use their strengths and mould them into Giants players and that's what Harry's done and he's really shone in the NEAFL under duress with a lot of top players."