The majority of players drafted to the Brisbane Lions are forced to pack their bags and move interstate to commence their AFL career.

In fact, only eight of the Club’s 48 currently listed players (16.7%) were already living in Queensland at the time they were recruited.

Meanwhile, only four of the the 12 new Lions faces for 2012 played local football in Queensland last year, meaning eight were required to relocate.

For an 18 year-old coming straight out of school, it can be a daunting prospect to farewell your friends and family to settle in a relatively foreign city.

But the latest crop of draftees seem to have taken to their new surroundings with ease, and are proud to call Brisbane their new home.

Lions.com.au caught up with Elliott Yeo (from East Fremantle in Western Australia), Justin Clarke (from Booleroo in country South Australia) and Sam Docherty (from Phillip Island in country Victoria) to hear about their first impressions of the city of Brisbane.

Elliott Yeo

It’s a pretty similar environment to Perth, so I’ve settled in really well.

I’m staying with Brad Harvey and generally just like to chill out at home when I’m not at the Club. Sometimes I’ll go out with some of the boys to see a movie.

I actually went down the Coast with Patrick Wearden on the first weekend after I arrived which was great.

I’ve also been up to Noosa before on holidays with the family, and the water and the beaches up there are beautiful.

Justin Clarke

I’ve found moving to Brisbane has been really good.

I had a brief experience of living in Adelaide when my brothers moved down there, so I had a little bit of an idea what city life would be like.

Brisbane is nice and warm, and I’m really enjoying it.

The people are so friendly. When I first moved up, I didn’t have a car and was using public transport a fair bit. Everybody was so friendly on the buses, I couldn’t believe it. People would hop onto the bus and say “G’day” to the bus driver. I love it.

Sam Docherty

I’m loving it up here. My first impression was that Brisbane was just a massive country town.

I wouldn’t say it’s been a lot warmer than Melbourne, because when I spent time back at home over Christmas, it was stinking hot down there.

But Brisbane has almost perfect weather. The city is great, and I actually really enjoy being up here.

I moved in with a host family and have settled in really well there. They are terrific to live with.