Lions fans headed to Metricon Stadium this Saturday night unfortunately won’t get to see one of the Club’s newest recruits, Michael Close, in action for the first time.

196cm Close, who was selected by the Lions with Pick No.32 at the 2012 AFL National Draft, has been impressive on the training track since arriving in Brisbane late last year, and surprised many by finishing third overall in the Club’s most recent 2km time trial.

But the North Ballarat recruit revealed on Wednesday that a minor foot problem would keep him from making his first appearance in the team’s NAB Cup opener.

“I won’t be playing this weekend at Metricon, injured foot,” Close told Lions fans during his recent live online chat.

“I injured my foot about two weeks ago but (it’s) nothing major.”

“I would love to (play in one of the upcoming NAB Cup matches), but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Fortunately Close was able to take part in last week’s intra-club match, although he found himself in relatively foreign territory down back matched up against Aaron Cornelius.  

While it proved a steep learning curve, he still sees himself playing more regularly up forward – and occasionally in the ruck – this season.

“I have been in the forwards group all pre-season, so I see myself playing up there,” Close said.

“Hopefully I can do some back-up ruck work this year because I like playing there. But it depends what the coaches want.”

Asked whether the prospect of matching up against the ‘Men’s Club’ (Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull and Matt Maguire) at training was daunting for young forwards such as himself, Close said he was yet to find out.   

“It’s not very scary for me as Browny takes them all!”

Read Michael Close's full chat transcript