Like many AFL aspirants, Aksel Bang played soccer as a junior. Unlike most he grew up in Denmark.

Bang has landed in Australia for a two-week stint with Greater Western Sydney, having been signed on an international scholarship in January.

Midway through a six-month stint in Afghanistan with the Danish army, Bang will watch Saturday’s clash with Essendon from the stands before running out with GWS’s reserves the following weekend.

Rated as Europe’s brightest Australian rules prospect, Bang admits his goal of playing AFL is more a dream at this stage.

“I don’t know how realistic it is,” Bang said on Thursday.

“Because there’s still a lot of distance from AFL Europe to AFL down here.

“I’ve only been playing for 2.5 years, so these guys have a lot of skills that I don’t have.

“I haven’t been born with it like these guys.

“So there’s still a ways to go there, but if you have your heart in the right place and a bit of flair for the game, I think you can go a long way.”

Bang was part of professional soccer club Aalborg BK’s elite junior setup prior to discovering AFL during a trip to Australia.