Mitchell Hinge is making the most of his AFL experience after being drafted by the Lions at the end of 2016.

Hinge was selected in the Rookie Draft in November after playing in the under 18s for Glenelg last season.

Since his arrival at the Lions, the young South Australian has embraced the challenges of AFL football.

“The main thing you realise is the intensity in the skill level, it obviously climbs dramatically. I’m just trying to adapt to the speed of play and try to do the best I can,” Hinge told LionsTV.

“It’s been a massive step-up but I don’t really feel out of my depth at the moment.”

Hinge has been compared to Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall because of his size and penetrating left-foot kick. He has been playing off half-back during INC pre-season training period and the 18-year-old has been happy with how he’s progressing. 

“I’ve had to play on a few midfielders going down there (forward) and having a spell. I played on Mitch Robinson and a few of those guns that come through the midfield.”

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