DEAN Kent is quickly making an impression.

The first year Demon has yet to make his debut, but he has caught the eye of many with red and blue in their blood after a couple of NAB Cup appearances and some good form in the VFL.

For the 19 year-old, the possibility of playing his first AFL match in the near future is firmly in his thoughts, but so too is staying the course and adhering to his role at Casey.

“I’ve been in match committee for the last couple of weeks now, so I’m around the mark, but I’m just waiting for an opportunity to open up,” Kent told melbournefc.com.au.

“It was great to see the boys have a win on the weekend, and I don’t want to push anyone out, but if the opportunity is there, I’ll grab it for sure.

“I’m not sure when I’ll get a call up, but hopefully it’ll be soon and I can get it out of the way and play some solid AFL footy.”

Kent said he was pleased with his transition from under age football to the NAB Cup, and now with Casey. 

“I’ve gone from [WAFL] Colts last year to straight onto an AFL list and now playing VFL, so it’s been a pretty big stepping stone, but I’m finding it fine,” he said.

“The tempo is pretty good and I’m used to it now. I’m finding the ball all right, and the structures pretty well.

“Hopefully, the next step is the AFL.”

Kent, who was selected at No. 48 from Perth in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, said he relished the opportunity to play in the NAB Cup, which gave him a taste of the big time.

He played in Melbourne’s two-point loss against North Melbourne in its opening NAB Cup clash and ventured to Renmark in country South Australia the following week, when the Demons overcame the Power by two points. Kent was then sidelined with a calf problem for the next two matches.

“I hurt my calf playing in Renmark and I had a tear in it, so that took a couple of weeks to recover from that,” he said. 

“I was in some pretty good form in the NAB Cup, so it was pretty disappointing missing two weeks. I had to find my spot back after that [injury] in the VFL.

“It was great to play in the AFL [NAB Cup] for the first couple of rounds, but I haven’t really had a major injury, so I’ve been pretty lucky, touch wood. Hopefully, the rest of the season will be injury free and I’ll play some good footy.”

Playing as a half-forward, the long kicking left footer from Clackline, 80 km north-west of Perth, said his role hadn’t changed significantly since he won the Jack Clarke Medal for the best WAFL Colts player in 2012.

“Where I’ve playing in the VFL is similar to my role last year, which is rolling up to that high half-forward, finding the ball and running it through the middle,” he said.

“I’ve been using my leg speed and then using my skills to hit a leading target and [my] defensive aspects have been pretty good. I like having the ball longer in my hands, so disposal wise, I’d like to find a bit more footy around the ground.

“That’s one thing I’m looking for, but my form has been pretty consistent. I’d just like to bump it up a bit and get some more disposals.”

Given Kent has moved from the other side of the country, it’s only natural that he’s gravitated towards some fellow Sandgropers, in particular fellow new recruit Jesse Hogan, who will be officially listed in 2014.

Kent, who is one of five Western Australian players at the club, along with Mitch Clark, Michael Evans and Neville Jetta, couldn’t speak highly enough of Hogan, his new teammate and now close friend.

“Hoges is a ripper. I didn’t really know much of him when I first got drafted – I hadn’t spoken to him before – but once I got to the club, Hoges was the first to come up and have a chat,” he said.

“Now, we’re just solid and have a good friendship and he’s always around, so it’s good to have someone from WA to talk to about back home.

“Also, playing footy with him is really good in the forward line – he’s a talented kid. He’s going to be a superstar, so it’s been good to have a friendship with him.”

As for Hogan? He too is rapt to call Kent a mate – now.

“I didn’t actually like him too much throughout last year, playing against him. I didn’t have anything to do with him, because he didn’t play nationals,” he said.

“But when he got over here, I talked to him and now we have similar hobbies. We love our golf, love the beach and love a bit of surfing, so he’s one of my best mates at the club now.

“We’re pretty much together three times a week outside of the club, playing golf or hanging out really, so he’s been great.”

Although Kent has Hogan and his new teammates to lean on, he still keeps in close contact with his family and friends, despite moving across the other side of the country.  

“I keep in touch with Mum and Dad a couple of times a week, and my brother and sister as well,” he said.

“My sister is coming over in a couple of weeks and a mate is coming over for the weekend as well, so they’re making an effort to come over and catch up.

“There is Facebook and Instagram as well, where you can check up on them, without contacting them, but the family’s been well and it’s been good to keep in contact with them.”