JOSH Green went back to Tasmania to relax over the Christmas break, but almost had to turn firefighter as his family house came under threat.
Green was spending time with his parents and two siblings when the bushfires that ravaged the south of Tasmania threatened their Hobart house.
“The fires came close to home, about a kilometre from our house. It was real close,” Green said.
“It was coming down the hill, but luckily the wind took it away. Mum and dad were a bit nervous.”
Green said they were lucky to lose nothing.
“We were ready to go (evacuate), we got a message to leave. We didn't think it was too bad so we stayed at home.”
Everything worked out fine for the Greens, and upon returning to Brisbane Lions training, the 20-year-old has gone about making himself another home – the forward pocket.
Last year the flame-haired speedster played 12 games and kicked 15 goals after being shifted from a part-time midfield role into a more permanent spot up forward.
His three-goal final quarter cameo as a substitute against West Coast in round 10 helped seal an upset win for the Lions.
In fact, he kicked multiple goals on six occasions and formed a dynamic partnership with first-year sensation Dayne Zorko.
While others crave a spot in the midfield, Green said – for the time being anyway – he wanted to secure the small forward’s role.
“I'm still probably another 12 months away from the fitness and learning the game to be a full-time midfielder so I'm keen to play that role again,” he said.
“My speed, I don't mind kicking a goal, good pressure, second efforts and chasing. There's four or five things I bring to the table.
“This year there's a chance to cement a spot. I have to improve my fitness and be more consistent week in, week out before earning a regular spot.
“There's a fair chance to become a regular and hopefully that happens, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.”
Now in his third pre-season, Green said he had worked hard on repeat speed and endurance in the past two months.
He will be up against Zorko and Todd Banfield – who was first injured and then struggled for form last year – for roles in the forward half.
“Sometimes it can go over your head, and you turn around and it goes over your head again, and you keep getting missed, so it's important you have that base fitness to keep running all day and keep turning up to contests and eventually you'll get touches,” Green said.
Michael Whiting writes Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
