As we near the beginning of the 2016 Toyota AFL Premiership Season AFL.com.au's Michael Whiting takes a look at the underrated players who hold the key to our club's hopes:

Mitch Robinson

He's played just one season at the Lions, but Robinson had a big influence. After starting the year as a half-forward he was moved to the midfield for the final nine weeks and completely turned the Lions' fortunes. Until then they had won the clearance count just four times in 12 matches, but once Robinson was inserted as a negator, things flipped. The Lions won the clearance count six of nine times (he missed one match) with an average difference of plus five. Robinson also found plenty of the ball himself, racking up 25 disposals and 10 tackles a game. Not the flashiest, but possibly the most effective.