Chat with coach inspires Brisbane veteran

Mitch Robinson’s form revival with the Lions stems back to a heart-to-heart chat with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan following the club’s gut-wrenching loss to Geelong just two weeks into the AFL season.

The one-point loss to the Cats left the Lions with two defeats from as many matches, with Robinson’s early-season form not up to scratch.

Off contract at the end of the season, Robinson, who has since turned 31, needed some inspiration.

And it came from Fagan.

“We just had a pretty open and honest conversation.” said Robinson, who kicked a career-high four goals and had 30 disposals in Brisbane’s 64-point weekend thrashing of the GWS Giants at the Gabba.

“We spoke about how I was feeling, how the body was feeling … I had a little bit of stuff going on with me at that time, so he was just checking on me, making sure my head was in the right spot.

“I talked about my post career. I had a big conversation about how it all looks.

“It was really refreshing, and I got all that off my chest, and he’s been talking me through some stuff, and I’ve been playing some good footy since.

“He wasn’t worried about the touches I was getting or what was happening, it was more about how I was going off the field, which is why we love him here.”

Mitch Robinson celebrates after kicking four goals for the Lions against the Giants. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Robinson has averaged 22 disposals a game since the Lions’ round 2 loss to the Cats.

“From then on, it felt like I had something to prove, a little bit of fire in the belly,” the former Carlton midfielder said.

“I think he (Fagan) was doing that in the pre-season too, just trying to get me to go to another level. From round 3 onwards I've been playing some pretty consistent footy.”

Robinson now plays mainly on the wing, and he believes the positional switch could prolong his career.

“I think my mind and my body feels as good as I was when I was 21,” he said.

“I play on the wing now. I only had three contested possessions on the weekend, so I wasn’t really crashing bodies and packs.

“I feel I can get a bit of longevity out of my new role, and it feels good and it feels like I’m still pretty young.

“Luckily enough I’ve been getting my hands on it (the ball) in the recent weeks, and if the footy Gods look after you, they can give you four goals every now and then.”

The Lions are aiming for eight straight wins when they take on ladder leaders Melbourne in a blockbuster on Friday night.

“When you’ve won seven in a row you’re trying to look to play the best teams in the competition, and we’re getting our hands on Melbourne this weekend, which is going to be great,” Robinson said.

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