Wayward Blue to be Lions protector

Mitch Robinson feels like an AFL dinosaur among Brisbane’s young-guns but he’s be throwing his weight and experience around for the Lions’ blue-chip brigade.

The cheapest of the club’s seasoned recruits, the colourful hardnut – delisted by Carlton after six years as a Blue – plans to get down and dirty to repay his new club.

Robinson, 25, has vowed to play a protector role for the likes of Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen, Daniel Rich, Pearce Hanley and Tom Rockliff.

“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “I will be coming up as a more experienced player who’s played a couple of finals campaigns so I will try and bring that to the table.

“I see myself playing a forward role and relieving midfielder trying to put a few bumps on the taggers on the big dogs who are up here, like Rich and Beams, and those blokes who are pulling in the cash.

“So I’ll be in there trying to look after them.”

Robinson began training with the Lions this week and has taken to his switch – escaping the Melbourne “media bubble” – with vigour.

“It feels like my first year again,” he said.

“(But) the first thing I saw when I got out on the training track on Monday was how young the group was.

“I felt like I was a dinosaur.”

Lured north by former Carlton chief executive Greg Swann, Robinson said both Lions powerbroker Swann and coach Justin Leppitsch want him to stay true to his natural aggressive on-field approach, and show leadership.

“(Leppitsch) just wanted to make sure the off-field things were sorted out and didn’t bring any negative tension to the club,” he said.

“That’s all behind me. I’ve never been more hungry.

“Brisbane is similar to Tassie. It’s just bigger and, obviously, a lot hotter. I’m just focussed on my family and football.

“Already I love it up here … and I feel very much at home.”

He was immediately welcomed with open arms by Lions players far happier to have him on side than face him.

“Jack Redden was the first one to text me saying it would be good to play with you and not against you because we actually have got a couple of fines from wrestling against each other,” the 100-gamer said.

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