MITCH Johnstone has a long way to go - but, the good news is he's already halfway there.
The young Essendon off-spinner has all the attributes to become a class act in the Victorian Premier Cricket.
At only 20, the former Keilor junior is already into his fifth season with the Bombers.
Could this be the summer he nails down the spinning role in the first XI?
"It is an important year but every year is pretty crucial," he said.
"The last two-and-a-bit years have been steady. I've played close to 50 games now so I'm starting to get that confidence and experience to be able to mix it."
Johnstone landed at Bomberland as a 16-year-old after being spotted in the Bombers' under-16 Dowling Shield team.
He was rewarded with a debut late in the 2005-06 season after displaying the kind of maturity you would not usually associate with a secondary schooler.
In his first game against a full-strength Andrew McDonald-led Melbourne in a one-dayer at Windy Hill, Johnstone made a significant contribution with 2-39 from his 10 overs.
A star was born.
Johnstone has not always felt comfortable at the top level of Victorian club cricket.
He openly admits his first two summers were daunting.
"I was pretty young and a little bit raw," he said.
"I wasn't really ready. I struggled to be honest.
"Being 16 and 17, I was up against state players and just wasn't quite at the level."
Johnstone has improved in each of his four years before this summer.
He took four wickets in half a season in year one and backed it up with nine, 13 and 14 in the past three seasons. He's already taken four wickets this season.
Johnstone's contributions are not always to be judged in the wickets column.
His economy rate in the opening five one-day matches of this summer is 2.7 per over - outstanding for a spinner. He has an uncanny knack of building pressure in the limited overs games, which allows the bowlers at the other end to benefit.
But, he understands his bowling average of 26 needs to come down and his partnership-breaking ability in the two-day matches has to increase if he is to steer clear of one-day specialist tag.
"I'm primarily seen as a one-day spinner," he admitted.
"I've been more of a containing bowler at this stage without getting a heap of wickets.
"But, my main virtue is my accuracy as I'm not a massive turner of the ball.
"I've developed in the last couple of years and I'm feeling confident that I can compete at the level."
Johnstone has set a goal of at least 20 wickets this summer.
Not one Bomber achieved that mark last season with medium-pacer Craig Berger the highest with 17 wickets.
The magical 20-mark and, of course, a finals appearance would go some way to Johnstone repaying the Bombers for the belief they have shown in him since he arrived as a teenager.
"I know I've got a little bit of time on my side but it is time to deliver now," he said.
"The club has invested a lot of time into me and I'm really indebted to the club because they picked me before I was ready, they gave me a chance and threw me in the deep end.
"I'm hoping that I'm starting to re-pay them a little bit and I know I've got a bit of work to do still but I'm forever indebted to the club for the way they've given me the opportunities."
Not unlike all youngsters involved in Premier Cricket, Johnstone strives to be the best he can and hopes that it leads to state representation along the track.
If not, he is more than happy to carve out a career with the Bombers.
"Just to play one game [for Victoria] would be the icing on the cake," he said.
"Realistically, I want to have a good 10 or 15-year career with Essendon and do something similar to what Ben Fletcher or Craig Berger has done. I'd be more than happy with that."
Johnstone - the son of former Bombers first XI player Michael who played alongside Berger for a period of time - has always had a passion for cricket.
It's no surprise given that his Hillside resident is equipped with a bowling machine and batting net where he coaches junior cricketers on a one-on-one basis.
Johnstone is a cool customer off the field. But, he can be quite the fiery customer in the line of duty, which explains his admiration for Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
"I like his aggresson as an off-spinner," Johnstone said.
"I'm similar in that I get a bit of white-line fever. I'm pretty timid off the field, but when you get on the park it's a battle."
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