BRISBANE winger Mitch Robinson says there won't be any excuses if the Lions fail to back up their breakout 2019 season.
They started with a 28-point defeat to Hawthorn in front of a largely empty MCG in round one, before AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan put the season on hold because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
All AFL footballers trained in pairs or on their own for the bulk of the following two months until being able to train in groups of up to eight people back at their club this week.
Robinson told reporters on Thursday there were high internal expectations at Brisbane but the focus was more on improving as a group rather than setting specific goals.
"We haven't publicly come out and said we want to play finals, because we don't know what's happening this year," Robinson said.
"We're going to rock up to every game and try and win every game, and that's what our philosophy's been since the day we got here, as well as continued improvement.
"We'll adapt as best we can and there's not going to be any excuses from us at the Brisbane Lions.
"We'll try and win as many games as possible and depending on how the finals land and who gets there, hopefully we're in that category."
Robinson's been one of the more high-profile players in the isolation period, with his podcast, gaming and social media interests all attracting attention.
They not only provided a welcome distraction and kept him busy, along with helping his kids with remote learning, but he did them with an eye to post-footy life despite coming off his best season.
"The best thing about it when you're live streaming, there's been a lot of people tuning in, because they're isolating themselves," Robinson said.
"Analytics wise, (my audience) rose by a lot of percentage, so I was pretty happy in that regard. In saying that, I do it because I love doing it and it keeps me busy.
"When I first got up here I didn't have any hobbies and the psych said I had to start finding something, because going to the movies by yourself isn't (something) to brag about."
Robinson is torn on the value of manufactured crowd noise for broadcasts but added that he was "shell-shocked" running out to no crowd in the season-opener.
Either way, he is in for the here and now, while also being prepared for the day his career comes to an end.
"I'm turning 31 this year but I feel the best I have in my career and I'm still that childish 21-year-old I was at the Blues and I'm happy and very energetic," Robinson said.
"When 'Fages' (coach Chris Fagan) steers me in the right direction, I think I play my best footy. I owe a lot to him.
"He lets me off the leash sometimes and sometimes he says, 'Pull your head in'. I'm lucky to have that relationship with him."
