YOUNG Brisbane Lions midfielder Sam Sheldon's first encounter with Brendan Fevola was more memorable than most of his teammate's.  

Sheldon was only nudging 10 years old at the time, and had trailed his father, three-time Carlton premiership player Ken, to the since-renamed Visy Park.

Fevola, then a young Carlton player, was yet to make his senior debut and gave little indication that he was set to become one of the most powerful forwards in the game.

Perhaps it was because he had no teeth.

"He was pretty young and I'm pretty sure he was still playing in the twos," Sheldon recalled, over a decade later.

"He probably wouldn't remember missing his teeth when I met him.

"He was just a really happy-go-lucky bloke, really upbeat. I've always through he would go out of his way to help someone."

Sheldon is now 20 years old and gearing up to play alongside the two-time Coleman medallist who joined the Lions during last year's trade period.

While they're yet to take to the field in a competitive situation, Sheldon says Fevola's influence has already been felt around the club.

"He's very positive at training and he's really good on the track," he said.

"He's always happy to talk to kids and sign stuff for them.

"He's good to have around. He's a pretty special player and hopefully he can kick a whole heap of goals for us."

Sheldon doesn't believe the combination of Fevola and the equally-powerful Jonathan Brown will make the Lions' attack top-heavy.

He also hopes coach Michael Voss will allow him to add to his 19 senior games in a role that lands him at the feet of the duo.

"They're both experienced goalkickers ... they're probably two best at it in the game at the moment", he said.

"It will be an awesome feeling to be running down with those two blokes in front, as it was with Browny and [Daniel Bradshaw]
 
"I wouldn't mind playing up forward. Hopefully I'll be able to crumb a few goals from the big boys this year."

Sheldon's 19-year-old teammate Jack Redden agrees the pairing of the two big forwards will work in the Lions' favour.

"I reckon there will be a bit of pressure off Browny because he won't get double-teamed as much," he said.

"If they work together and don't clash, I think it will be a really good combination. They've played together in the Victorian side before and it worked really well.

"You'll feel pretty safe with those two up front."

Redden, who has put on eight kilos himself, named Amon Buchanan, James Polkinghorne and Tom Rockliff as players to have enjoyed strong pre-seasons.