I'm not sure why anyone would expect the debutant to get a prime midfield role.
This is a side that doesn't playing Billings or Hunter Clark in the midfield because Ratten genuinely prefers Crouch, Dunstan, Hanners, Jones and Ross types, he just doesn't value speed (Jones does have) or ball use there, it's good for Steele (who is a good ball user to be fair) but it hurts anyone who is somewhat dynamic or kicks well because it's not valued.