FIVE weeks after being selected in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft, Kyle Dunkley is beginning to settle into his new home at Melbourne.

The 19-year-old has played four games for VFL affiliate club Casey Demons, and is taking all that comes with being a Melbourne-listed player in his stride.

“It’s been awesome,” Dunkley said on the club’s Inside Melbourne podcast.

“I’m loving it – it’s always what I’ve wanted to do.”

After missing out on last year’s National Draft, the versatile midfielder is determined to put his best foot forward with the red and blue.

Since debuting for the Demons, he has kicked five goals and is averaging 17.5 disposals a game.

But the newest red and blue recruit says there’s still plenty to build on.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Dunkley said.

“I’m doing a lot of work behind the scenes with a few coaches on contested stuff and things like that – trying to take my game to the next level.

“There are a lot of things to work on but it’s not too bad coming into a new team.”

Sport has always been at the heart of the Dunkley household.

Growing up in the Gippsland town of Yarram, backyard battles were aplenty, with father Andrew playing AFL for Sydney, and siblings Josh and Lara also having a keen sporting interest.  

“It was pretty even, but Lara was bigger than us two, so she probably won,” Dunkley said.

“She probably got the most aggressive as well…it used to be pretty full on in the backyard.”

While Josh (Western Bulldogs) and Lara (Melbourne Vixens) have both gone on to make it at the top level, Dunkley has never felt the pressure to follow in their footsteps.

“Everyone in the family was always supportive, whether I was to get there or not,” he said.

“Having that support really helped me, and luckily enough, I was able to get there.”