NEW BRISBANE Lion Jack Frost desperately wants to prove he can still play at the top level.
Frost, 24, played 54 games in four seasons with the Magpies, but fell out of favour in the second half of 2016 before being traded to the Lions.
In the second week with his new club, the key defender is being spurred on by his exit from Collingwood.
"I do have something to prove," Frost said following training on Monday morning.
"Especially from your old club, when there's no interest, and you take a little bit of it to heart, I'm sure any athlete would."
Standing 195cm, Frost looks a direct replacement for retired Daniel Merrett in an inexperienced Lions backline.
He is a dour defender, quick off the mark with a good spoil, and despite his relative youth, has just 10 teammates older than him on the young list.
However, Frost will have to wait a little longer to prove himself to his new teammates after undergoing off-season hip surgery that will keep him from full training until after Christmas.
"It's frustrating being in rehab because you just want to jump in and prove what you can do," he said.
"You want to get involved and get amongst it all and show your leadership qualities, which is a bit harder when you're sitting on the sidelines and watching, but it is what it is and I'll be right soon enough."
"I'm very closely aligned with the club – fresh start here and same for me.
"I'm looking to take my game to the next level. There's a lot of ways I can do that and I'm looking forward to it."
Although the senior players are required only to return next week, most of the Lions' elder statesmen have made an early return, with Dayne Beams, Daniel Rich, Stefan Martin and Allen Christensen among those running this morning.
Jack Frost doing some skills work with Development Coach Zane Littlejohn at training today.
