Speaking on The Roar Deal, Stone spoke highly of the Lions inclusivity, stating that the staff, coaches and players had made the move from Adelaide seamless.

“The club environment is really inclusive. It’s been a really easy process, it’s such a cooperative group to work with and they’ve been really helpful,” the former SANFL premiership winning coach said.

Stone also said he was impressed with Head Coach Chris Fagan’s efforts in driving 2 hours to Noosa to get coffee and discuss the role.

“I was on holiday with my family in Noosa and got a call from Chris asking if I’d want to step back into the AFL. I said I’d be interested in the right environment and he said he’d drive up on Saturday and buy me a coffee.

“We ended up chatting about family and footy and our experiences within the AFL. I walked away thinking that Chris is the type of leader that cares about people first and he was a person I wanted to work with,” Stone said.

The new strategy coach also touched on his appreciation for the Lions family focussed culture.

“The only difficulty in the move from SA was taking the kids out of school again. We didn’t want to make the move unless it was right for the entire family.

“There is a really great family environment at the club and I think the kids will really enjoy it. I want my entire family to find success in the move, it’s about them, not just me,” he said.

When asked about which players have impressed him throughout pre-season so far, Stone was quick to mention younger players hoping to make their way into the team in the upcoming season.

“Obviously the likes of Lachie and Zorko impress with their professionalism and skill. But the likes of James Madden, the Irishman, he has a lot to offer and is incredibly quick.

“The likes of Tom Berry, Ely Smith and a lot of the young guys are ready to pop and in for a really good season.”