DASHING half-back Jayden Hunt says he’s itching to take his game to the next level this year after an impressive debut season in 2016.

Hunt, who made his AFL debut against Collingwood at the MCG in round four last year and played 19 games, quickly became an integral part of the team with his pace and flair, plus his attack on the footy, a feature of his game.

Speaking on Melbourne TV series AHG Road to Round 1, Hunt said he was determined to build on what will be his fourth AFL-listed season, after his first two were ruined by injury.

“I can’t wait for the season to start and to get into it all,” he said.

“We showed some promising signs in the JLT [Community Series], but I think there is plenty more to come for our young team.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be honest.”

Reflecting on his first two seasons, after he was drafted at No.57 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Hunt said it was a testing period, but one that had made his stronger physically – and mentally.

“To get injured for the entire first year or two was pretty hard,” he said.

“I’m normally a pretty outgoing bloke with my friends, but in a new environment and [being] low on confidence and having injuries as well, it was a pretty hard time for me.

“What a lot of people don’t realise is that you have a lot of individual time in rehab and you can’t use the connection that you’d normally have.”