IT'S ALMOST 4000km from the small Western Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing to the nation's capital of Canberra, which is the distance Zephaniah Skinner has had to travel in order to achieve his dream of playing AFL football. 

In reality, it's been a much longer journey for the 21-year-old, who will make his AFL debut on Saturday against the Sydney Swans at Manuka Oval.

His expedition first had an important stopover in the Northern Territory, where he rocketed onto the club's radar with his blinding leap and exciting skills while playing in the local competition in 2009-10, and then for NT Thunder in the QAFL.

Next, he was drafted by the Dogs with pick No.88 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, which plotted the next leg of his journey that originated in the Kimberley community of Noonkanbah - home to just 200 people and located 500km inland between Fitzroy Crossing and Broome - to the doorstep of an AFL career.

After landing at Whitten Oval following the November draft, Skinner progressed to the point where he was given opportunities in the pre-season competition.

He impressed in patches, and then announced his arrival with four goals in a NAB Challenge match against Fremantle in Bunbury in early March.

Now, just three weeks after playing in the Williamstown reserves, the freakishly high-leaping talent's quest from his home community to his first AFL game will end in Canberra when he runs out against the Swans. 

"His fitness is improving and he's worked hard on the track and his form over the last two weeks has been very pleasing," coach Rodney Eade said on Friday at Manuka Oval, two hours after the Dogs touched down.

"He played very well last week and with the outs this week, it's just an opportunity for him to hopefully show his wares and grab the opportunity."

The temperature in Canberra was a chilly four degrees when the plane landed, which was something Skinner would not have experienced yet in his short time in Melbourne.

He would also have been shocked at the television cameras that came to Tullamarine Airport just to see him leave with his teammates early on Friday morning, as well as the interview request that followed.

In a quiet corner, or as quiet as a departure lounge can get, he nervously answered questions while his teammates drank coffee in a nearby café.

But once he got to Manuka Oval, those obvious nerves subsided and he did what he does best - sunk goals from all different directions, with a sublime on-the-run effort, promoting cheers from the rest of the travelling party.

Skinner is the fourth Bulldog to make an AFL debut this year behind highly-touted pair Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis, and defender Lukas Markovic.

With Jayden Schofield, who was selected in last year's draft between the Wallis-Liberatore combination and Skinner, an emergency for the second week running, there could be another on the immediate horizon.

"We know we've got a good bunch of youngsters; this is our fourth debutant already this year in six or seven weeks and we've got a few other young lads we want to play as well," Eade said.

"I think from that aspect, the more we can get in, the better."

Eade said the light run at Manuka that lasted just under an hour showed the players' touch was up from what it was against Fremantle two weeks ago, and against Collingwood in the wet last weekend.

"They've moved the ball well today and their skills are good," he said.

"It's something we've continued to work on. Sometimes it's just a bit of confidence. I think the belief is still there so I've got no doubt the skills will come back."

The Dogs also appear to have confidence in the fitness of the selected 22, having not travelled with an emergency player.