“Don’t count your games, make your games count.”

That advice from Denis Pagan has helped drive Drew Petrie towards becoming just the fifth Kangaroo to play 300 games with the club.

RELATED: Drew Petrie's player profile

Pagan was the first coach Petrie had when he arrived at Arden Street via the 2000 National Draft, and the forward admitted feeling nervous when he met the senior coach.

“I was scared, intimidated. But it was the foundation that’s helped me get to where I am today,” Petrie told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“He taught you respect, hard work, not to get ahead of yourself.”

Although Pagan was only coach for Petrie’s first two seasons at AFL level, he had a lasting influence.

Watch the full Petrie interview on AFL 360 in the video player at the top of the page