ROBINSON ROARING
TASSIE LION READY TO RIP
MITCH Robinson is eyeing a permanent spot in Brisbane’s forward line next year as he looks to return to his bone crunching best after his 2017 campaign was cut short by injury.
The Tasmanian hard nut broke his foot in Round 7 against Sydney and despite attempts to get back on the park the injury failed to heal, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season.
Now back into full training after a minor calf complaint restricted his early pre-season, Robinson is determined to help lift the Lions out of the AFL doldrums and back up the ladder.
While only 28 years old Robinson is one of the oldest players left on a youthful Brisbane list, and the former Lauderdale junior will be striving to impart his experience on a group that finished with the wooden spoon in Grant Fagan’s first full season in charge.
“The foot is feeling really good so morale is up and all the boys are ready to go,” Robinson said after the Lions held a training session at UTAS Stadium yesterday.
“I probably went a bit too hard at some stages but I have had a bit of a calf niggle the last couple of weeks so I was joining in with the forwards.
“That’s where I want to play the majority of my footy next year. Wee have a good forwardrd line going, pretty zippy,ippy, so I’m trying to holdld my spot in there.”
The Lions alreadydy have a fleet-footed forwardrd line with the likes of Lewis Taylor and All-Australian midfielderdfielder Dayne Zorko proving they are dangerous at ground level, and with the addition of Adelaide grand finalist Charlie Cameron, No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner and the return of 2011 Geelong premiership player Allen Christensen from injury, the opposition defences will be kept on their toes.
Robinson also had high praise for Hawthorn great Luke Hodge, who shunned retirement plans to move north and join forces with Fagan. “ObObvi ously he is an experienced head, he has played 300 games anand he has already settled nicenicely into the backline,” Robinson said of Hodge. “We are really big on communication on the ground at the moment. I think we are the equal youngest team in the AFL so having him in there takes that up a bit.”