Defender Kyle Hartigan credits fellow backman Daniel Talia in helping him grow into a consistent AFL performer.

Hartigan is set to play his 50^th senior game in Saturday night’s Elimination Final against North Melbourne.

The milestone comes off the back of a career-best season for the 24-year-old. After being left out of Adelaide’s Round One side, Hartigan has played 21 consecutive games and has been arguably the Club’s most improved player this year.

It’s been a remarkable rise for the former apprentice electrician, who joined Adelaide via the 2013 Rookie Draft and managed just 10 senior games in his first two seasons.

Victorian duo Hartigan and Talia progressed through the TAC Cup together and competed for defensive posts in the Victoria Metro representative squads during their junior years.

Hartigan said the advice and guidance of his long-time friend and now two-time All Australian teammate had been invaluable.

“Daniel’s been a massive influence on my career,” Hartigan said on FIVEaa radio.

“I’ve known him for a very long time, we played against each other in Under 10s and we grew up together.

“My coaches as well, (former defensive assistant coach) Darren Milburn and ‘Podsy’ (James Podsiadly) have been really good in helping me out.

“Especially this year with Podsy and the way we play. I think he’s helped take Tals’ game to the next level as well, he’s taken a lot more intercept marks and he’s had a terrific year along with a lot of the other boys down there.

“It’s been good to have a consistent year and play AFL footy week-in, week-out. The team’s been playing well and it’s been good to part of a winning culture.

“I’ve enjoyed this year and hopefully there’s many more to come.”

Kyle Hartigan highlights: 50 Games

Adelaide lost its season-opener to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, but squared the ledger with a 33-point victory in Round 14 at Adelaide Oval.

The result came despite poor conversion from the home side. Adelaide kicked 4.13 to trail by four points at half-time despite recording six more scoring shots, but eventually escaped with a win from a 12.28 (100) finish.

Hartigan hoped Adelaide could reverse its scoreline on Saturday night.

“You get a bit nervous when you’re having a lot of shots on goal and you can’t capitialise, you think ‘is this going to hurt us?’, but we were lucky enough to get over the line,” he said.

“Hopefully we do the other thing and kick 28.12, that would be nice.”

North Melbourne has no shortage of tall options up forward to keep Adelaide’s key defenders busy. Ben Brown leads the club’s goalkicking this season, veteran Drew Petrie is a proven finals performer, while athletic Roo Majak Daw continues to impress with every outing.

Hartigan held Brown to just two majors in the last meeting between the two sides but said he was prepared for any opponent.

“I’ve played on all those guys,” he said.

“I grew up playing with Majak (Daw), and played on the others a couple of times. Whoever they decide to play we’ll just take it as it comes.”