Young midfielder Jarryd Lyons says he couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut after being part of a victorious Adelaide team in Balfours Showdown XXXII at AAMI Stadium on Sunday night.

Lyons, who pulled on the Crows jumper for the first time in the opening round of the 2012 NAB Cup competition, received a call-up for the grudge match against Port Adelaide following several strong performances with Glenelg in the SANFL.

It was a pressure-cooker environment for a 19-year-old playing his first AFL game, but Lyons said he relished every minute of Adelaide’s gritty Showdown win.

“Other than a final, I don’t think you could ask for a better game to debut in. The Showdown is one of the biggest games in South Australia and I loved being out there,” Lyons said.

“From what all the boys said, the game was a lot more heated than usual.  The Showdown definitely lives up to all the hype. It was very tough out there. There were a few words being spoken and a lot of emotion in the game. It was very high-paced and the ball was just going from one end to the other.

“It was amazing out there … I couldn’t get enough of it. I could definitely get used to it.”

Lyons displayed poise in his first AFL game, collecting 14 possessions and narrowly missing an opportunity to register his first goal from a strong overhead mark inside 50m.

“I thought I held my own and probably did enough,” Lyons said of his first-up performance.

“It was very quick. I think I only lasted two-and-a-half quarters before I started cramping everywhere, but hopefully after a few more games my body will adjust and I’ll get used to the physical demands.

“I’m definitely hopeful of holding my spot, but it’s all up to the selection committee now. The aim was to get my first game and now that I’ve got it, I’ll reach for the second and the third and then hopefully 10 and 20. We’ll see how it goes from there.”

The Crows have a six-day break before taking on the unbeaten Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday night.

Late withdrawals from the team on Sunday, Jason Porplyzia (deltoid strain) and Sam Shaw (hamstring tightness) will hope to prove their fitness at training later in the week.

Skipper Nathan van Berlo, who was substituted out of the Showdown with a corked thigh, could also be available to play the Swans.

Lyons said his team was looking forward to its first trip to Sydney in almost four years.

“We’ve got a few tough games coming up,” he said.

“Sydney in Sydney is one of the toughest you’ll get and they’re certainly in good form. We’re only looking towards this week, so we’ll get this one out of the way (and then look at the next week.”