KANE FARRELL has revealed he didn’t expect to be playing AFL football this season and he has credited fellow small forwards Sam Gray and Lindsay Thomas for his impressive start.

Farrell, 19, was drafted to the Power with pick 51 in the 2017 draft.

The Bendigo Pioneers product booted 20 goals in 13 games to be Port Adelaide’s leading SANFL goal kicker and earn his AFL debut in front of around 6,000 people in Round 19 against the Western Bulldogs.

It was a special moment for Farrell, who grew up around an hour away from Ballarat, where the match was played.

His second game was in front of 50,000 people in the cauldron-like atmosphere of an away Showdown at Adelaide Oval last Saturday.

“It was a lot different to playing in Ballarat,” he told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“It was a lot louder and obviously being an away Showdown there wasn’t many Port supporters there.

“There’s no real feeling of it, it was just really loud and you’ve got to try and ignore it but you can’t.”

But if he had any early nerves, he certainly didn’t show it.

By quarter time he had booted three goals in an electrifying display of skill, composure and class.

“I didn’t get on until about five or ten minutes into the quarter but as soon as I kicked my first goal the nerves went away and I just started playing a lot better footy,” Farrell said.

“I was just in the right spots at the right time and a few players helped me get the goals.

“It’s just what I like doing, finishing goals.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley rates Farrell as an exciting prospect, and he has hinted at giving him a chance to retain his position for the foreseeable future.

But the modest teenager admits he has exceeded even his own expectations this year already.

“I didn’t really think I’d be getting a game at the start of the year,” he said.

“I just thought I’d come in and play SANFL for a year and try play some good footy but my chance came up last week and I think so far I have made the most of it.

“I just started playing consistent footy for a consistent four quarters as well, and I started hitting the scoreboard a lot more in the SANFL.

“When I got in the AFL side, all (Ken) wanted was pressure and all the other things would come, like my skill and my finishing, so he just wanted pressure.”

Farrell describes his best attributes as his finishing and his skills.

But the classy left footer has admitted he has plenty of work to do, revealing he models his game on fellow forward Sam Gray, and has sought the guidance of Gray and veteran Lindsay Thomas.

“I like to take a little bit out of Sam Gray’s game – just his work rate and getting to contests so I’d like to get that into my game a lot more,” Farrell said.

“Lindsay Thomas as well, with all of his experience as a forward line player. He’s been helping me out a lot with roles.”

Ironically, Farrell has kept Gray and Thomas out of the AFL side in the last two weeks.

But he knows staying in the side is his next challenge.

“I’ll definitely try to hold on to my spot but I’m happy playing footy wherever I can,” he said.

“I just enjoy playing footy.”

More on portadelaidefc.com.au...