Like many of his Brisbane Lions teammates, Mitch Golby hasn’t missed a beat since returning to pre-season training at the beginning of November.

Golby was particularly keen to get back out on the track considering he missed the second half of 2012 with a stress reaction in his foot.

Earlier in the season, the recruit from Kilcunda-Bass in country Victoria had established himself as a regular member of the Lions’ senior team and played in all 13 matches until suffering the untimely injury.

“I thought I was going to make it back for the end of the season, but unfortunately I didn’t,” Golby told lions.com.au.

“Once it became apparent that I wasn’t going to make it back, I thought I might as well keep my fitness up so that I would be right to go when pre-season came around.”

“I started running at the end of last season, then I was right to go through the off-season program, and I haven’t missed a beat during the pre-season so far.”

While Golby is determined to win his spot back in the Lions’ defence, he understands that competition will be fierce.

“Everyone’s going really well, we’re humming,” Golby said.

“The lads that came back from Arizona are looking great, and the rest of us that were back here were working really hard as well.”

“I’m hoping to get through the pre-season fit and ready to go, so I can put myself in line for a spot again.”

“I just need to improve my fitness and get it back up to level I got it to last year, so I can play longer periods throughout the game across half-back.”

“I also have to get my kicking back to where it was – particularly after spending so long without kicking a footy.”

Golby is also quickly developing as one of the young leaders within the Club, and led from the front at training while his more experienced teammates were over in Arizona.

“Myself, Beamsy, and Ryan Harwood were the older crew of the younger crew I guess, and felt it was our responsibility to make sure someone was leading the way."