Lions recruit Mitch Robinson says he is feeling right at home at his new Club.
Robinson joined the Lions after playing 100 games with Carlton. He was delisted by the Blues at the end of last season and since moving to the Hyundai Centre he has been one of the team’s best performers on the track.
“It’s going to still take time to get used to being out in the heat at training but all the boys have been very welcoming,” Robinson told The Courier-Mail.
“I’ve taken a bit of a mentoring role and trying to help the boys in whatever way I can with the experience I have.
“The move has been amazing for me, it was definitely something I was looking for and it’s been a bit of a silver lining, really.
“I’m up here away from the footy bubble and I can really concentrate on my footy and getting my leadership skills right.
“I’ve got my little family up here, too, and they’re loving it as well.”
Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said Robinson had added much-needed experience and aggression to the playing group.
“He’s been terrific, he’s a fantastic personality, great character and he’s bonded with the group really well,” he said.
“I think the aggression’s terrific and it’s going to help us and I guess, at times, he needs to harness it a bit. We’ve already got an issue with giving away free kicks so we don’t want to increase that but he’s aware of that and he’s working on it.”
As one of the more experienced players in the squad, Robinson said he wanted his actions to do the talking.
“Coming into this team and looking around the group, there was really only four or five blokes older than me, so I feel like a bit of a dinosaur but I have played plenty of finals so I can bring that experience in but it’s also about leading by example,” he said.
“I just got to keep pushing hard.
“I’ve been playing up forward and in the midfield in training, to give guys like Rocky (Tom Rockliff) a bit of a break in the middle. I want to bring more defensive pressure in the forward line as well so hopefully I can show the boys the way in that area.”
