BRISBANE midfielder Rhys Mathieson says his draft snubbing will act as a motivator through the 2016 season.
The combative on-baller looked a first-round pick after claiming his second all-Australian jumper in 2015, but concerns over Mathieson’s fitness saw him slide to pick No. 39.
“I don’t think about it too much now and it’s just a number at the end of the day and I’m pleased to be drafted. But, I want to show that I’m a bit better than what I got picked at,” he told Fox Sports.
“It does motivate me ... I’ll put out there what I can this year and show them why I shouldn’t have slipped.”
The Geelong Falcons product hasn’t missed a beat in his first pre-season with the Lions, where he’s focused on improving his running power in order to secure a Round 1 debut.
With Dayne Beams, Tom Bell, Ryan Bastinac Tom Rockliff, Allen Christensen, Daniel Rich, Pearce Hanley and Lewis Taylor before him in the midfield pecking order, Mathieson knows it’ll be a challenge.
“I really want to push for Round 1, we have a young team and a lot of injuries last year and there’s a lot of boys back so it’s going to be hard,” he said.
“We have actually got a really good midfield group, which some people don’t know about, but hopefully I’m pushing for Round 1.”
The Lions have struggled to hold onto interstate talent in recent seasons, but Mathieson said the club already feels like a “brotherhood”.
“The first few months was great. Obviously moving up to Brisbane has been a bit of a shock, but we are the youngest team in the AFL and the boys are really welcoming so it’s easy to fit in.”
The “prime” Brisbane weather and beaches have offset any homesickness Mathieson, 18, is feeling, but he’s still missing mates from home, including Essendon recruit Darcy Parish.
“I caught up with him (Parish) last night and any chance I get to see him is brilliant,” Mathieson said from the AFL Players’ Induction Camp last week.
“We always have a story here and there. It’s good to see the difference between clubs. We were once teammates, but competitors now. It’s still good to have that friendship though.”
Mitch Robinson and Rockliff, who he describes as a “beast”, have taken Mathieson under their wings and his trademark sense of humour is starting to emerge.
“Now the boys are getting around me a bit so I can loosen up. It’s a young club so it’s easy to fit in, but you want to be respected first and find out who you fit in with.”
