Then in his first season on the senior list he had to waiteight rounds in order to make his senior debut – only to be thrown straight intoa role he was completely unfamiliar with.
Having played as a defender his entire life, McMahon saidhe's still getting used to his new responsibility as a forward. If Sunday'stwo-goal performance against the Tigers is any indication, he's coming alongfaster than anyone expected.
"You just run straight at the footy and you can workyour man over and run him up, and work him on the way back, so it's a lotbetter," McMahon told kangaroos.com.au after Sunday's 25-point win.
"I've never played forward before in my life. I'vealways been a backman. I think I'd rather be the one in defence stopping thegoals, running off and giving the forwards their opportunities. But I'm morethan happy kicking goals."
Coach Dean Laidley isn't surprised how easily McMahon hasslotted into senior football, but he is a little taken aback by how well the 21-year-oldhas taken to his new role.
"He's been slowly coming along over the past threeyears, and that's why we elevated him," Laidley said.
"He played on the wing and in the midfield for Tassielast year, and I think he finished third or fourth in the best and fairest.
"I think he's up in the top couple in our runs, our Princes Park time trials and that sort of stuff,so he's got wonderful endurance.
"What probably has surprised me is how well he's gonein the forward line."
Although McMahon isn't quite sure whether he gets more enjoymentfrom kicking a goal or spoiling one, he is happy to play anywhere as long as hekeeps getting opportunities at senior level.
"I'm loving it. I'm absolutely loving it," he said.
"It's just great fun. The big difference between AFL andVFL is the speed of the ball and the ball movement but, other than that,there's obviously your running and the bigger bodies.
"I enjoy it because you know where the ball is going tocome from. That's the most pleasing thing."
With just five senior games to his name after two-and-a-halfyears at the club, McMahon has certainly taken the difficult route intofootball.
However, this tough initiation has made his success inrecent weeks taste so much sweeter.
"Two years on the rookie list, this is my third year,and it took me half the season to get my first game," he said.
"That makes it more special now, because I worked mybutt off for the first two years to try and stay there and obviously all mywork has paid off.”
"I've just got to keep improving now, and hopefullykeep my spot."
