ESSENDON draftee Kyle Langford admitted nerves got to him during his first game but described his debut as "surreal" following the Bombers two-point win over St Kilda on Sunday.

Langford said he was ecstatic to be part of the Bombers' thrilling victory at Etihad Stadium.

The athletic forward was drafted from the Northern Knights with pick No.17 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, and showed plenty of promise during the club's NAB Challenge campaign.

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In his debut on Sunday - with his family, friends and girlfriend watching from the stands - Langford had the chance to boot a goal with his first kick in AFL ranks.

Unfortunately he missed the relatively straightforward shot. Then, in the second term, he had another chance to register his first goal but missed once again.

A Gatorade-soaked Langford told AFL.com.au after the game nerves got the better of him.

"It was probably just first-game jitters," the 18-year-old said.

"I know I've got good skills (and) at the moment I'm working on my goalkicking a lot with (former Essendon champion) Matthew Lloyd; I know it's there and it'll come in time.

"It's all about backing my routine. I guess with those two set shots I might have just gone away from my normal routine, so I need to go away, work on it and hopefully it improves."

Langford finished the game with 12 disposals, seven of those contested, four marks and four tackles.

The young Bomber came into the side to replace veteran Paul Chapman, and said he was surprised to be handed his first senior game so early in the season.

"It's been pretty surreal," Langford said.

"To be playing this early is unbelievable.

“If you asked me at the start of pre-season if I was going to playing at all this year, I wouldn't have thought I would. But I'm really happy with the way it's turned out, my hard work has paid off."