A lot of great stories are born out of sporting pursuits across the globe, but Alik Magin's is one that will resonate strongly in his home state of Queensland.

The 19-year-old Nambour native toiled with Gold Coast's TAC Cup side, its VFL team and on its rookie list before finally being a part of the GC SUNS historic first AFL side.

In a rugby league heartland, Queensland AFL football has had its doubters along the way, but Magin only ever hoped for one thing.

"It's a dream come true," he says. "I've waited all my life to play AFL footy."

Magin's father Bill, a Pomona Demons legend of nearly 700 games and a Queensland hall of fame inductee, is the driving force behind both Alik's and his brother Rhys' AFL careers.

Rhys played four games for Essendon during his short stint as a rookie. Alik was made to work extremely hard for his AFL debut, but the smart money has him surpassing his brother at a rate of knots.

Not that he's going to be counting.

"Rhys and my old man are people who I look up to," he says.

"Over the NAB Cup I asked Rhys for a few tips on how to go about things and he was a huge help over those first four games.

"Dad brought us up playing local AFL footy at Pomona and then a few years ago my brother got rookied at Essendon. When that happened I definitely thought, 'Well, if he can make it then I can make it'."

Alik's dad and brother haven't been the only constant along his road to the big time. His close mate, and now Gold Coast SUNS teammate, Jake Crawford has been with him every step of the way.

"We grew up playing juniors together and we went to school and everything so to have him on the list as well is really exciting," Alik says.

"To have us two boys stay together is amazing and it's been really good to play with him.

"We're both really happy to be playing together still after all this this time. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Magin, standing at 181cm and 72kg, booted 17 goals in 14 goals in the VFL last year, but he's mindful of being pigeonholed as a flighty goal-sneak early in his burgeoning career.

"I want to base my game more on the defensive pressure side of things," he says.

"If you get the goals then that's the reward for being a good defensive player. That's really what I want to base my game on."