The last AFL player to make his senior debut in the finals wants Andrew Hooper to make the most of his self-confidence and seize the moment.

Former North Melbourne and Brisbane player Paul Spargo had 10 possessions and kicked a goal as the Kangaroos lost their 1985 semi-final to Footscray by five goals.

Footscray, now the Western Bulldogs, have picked Hooper to make his debut on Saturday night against Sydney, also in a semi-final.

Spargo, 44, runs his car yard at Lavington, near Albury and remains involved heavily in football.

He coached the Albury Tigers to last year's local premiership and they are also through to this month's grand final.

If Hooper was to ask him for some advice, Spargo would counsel to make the most of the big game.

"Enjoy the experience - from what I can gather, he has a fair bit of self-belief," Spargo told AAP.

"Be strong in your beliefs and make the most of your opportunities, because life and your footy career go quickly.

"You know, 25 year ago, gee, I don't know where that's all gone.

"I'm not sure I had the self-confidence he probably has - the younger generation are a different generation these days, that's great."

It is much the same advice as North star Ross Glendinning gave Spargo, then 18, as they ran onto the MCG 25 years ago.

"He said `just soak it in, a few deep breaths, take the crowd, take the emotion and that will help you get through that first little period'," Spargo said.

Spargo's debut had a direct connection with two North legends, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Keith Greig.

He came into the side for Schimmelbusch, who was injured after starring the previous week, while the semi-final was Greig's 300th match.

Spargo only found out about his debut the day before his game, but family members and a couple of friends were able to attend the match.

While his first kick went out of bounds on the full, Spargo remembers having a "reasonable" game as the Kangaroos lost.

"One of North's real strong points, the culture of the club, is that we pride ourselves on winning and performing at our best," Spargo said.

"It was an opportunity lost and because of that ... it was fairly solemn, we were disappointed.

"I remember thinning inside `I've played my first AFL game in a final, it's been a great experience'.

"But the overriding factor was we'd lost."

The midfielder played 81 games for North until 1992 and then nine more for Brisbane in `93 before retiring.

Spargo also had a couple of seasons as an assistant coach at Richmond before returning to his native Albury.

He has vivid memories of a tough 1985 pre-season under Denis Pagan, then in charge of the North thirds, and the lasting influence of another legendary coach, John "Kanga" Kennedy.

"'Kanga' was an amazing coach, but a more amazing person, just the respect and admiration you had for a person of his quality," Spargo said.

"To this day, I still take away things I learnt from him and try to put them into practice.

"He's had a huge influence on my life."

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