Recently retired Brisbane midfielder Mitch Robinson is excited about Friday night’s big game at the Gabba against Melbourne.
After last year’s semi-final upset which saw the Lions knock off the fancied Demons in Melbourne, Robinson says there’s a genuine rivalry building between the two teams.
After hanging up the boots in 2022, Robinson says you don’t have to look back too far to find out why there’s bad blood between the Lions and Demons with then Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko issuing a public apology after sledging Melbourne defender Harrison Petty about a family member in last year’s Round 23 clash.
“There’s just been a bit of bad blood,” Robinson told SENQ Mornings.
“I guess you don’t have to go back too far to the Zorko/Petty incident, that was heavily publicised what went on there, Zorko apologised, and he may have overstepped the mark, (but) 100 per cent (it was coming from the Demons first).
“For players and being able to give your side of the story, sometimes you just have to bite your tongue and do what’s good for your sponsors and good for the image.
“Zorko could have come out straight away gone, ‘Look, these guys were into me all day speaking about my relationships, my family or whatever’, but he didn’t do that, he took the high road and said, ‘Look I apologised for what I said’, and we got on with it.
“He didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire.”
While that incident was a flashpoint, Robinson says there’s been a strong rivalry between the sides for three or four years as they’ve battled for supremacy near the top of the ladder.
“But it’s just been one of those battles, we’ve both been at the top of the ladder,” Robinson said.
“For a while now, for about three or four years we’ve been going back and forth.
“Results don’t really matter, it was just the way we went about our footy.
“They won a Grand Final, they’ve been up there and beaten us in finals, that’s kind of been our thing against them.
“They’ve always had this kind of not smugness, but you can tell they just think they’re better than us.”
Robinson says he hopes Melbourne come to Brisbane motivated after losing in last year’s semi-final with a big game beckoning.
“So, this week is a big game for the Brisbane Lions,” Robinson said.
“We got the last laugh in the finals last year against them,
“Hopefully they come up here and bring some animosity and we have a great game.”
Brisbane go in search of their first win of the year with the bounce for Friday’s big game against Melbourne set for 7:55 pm (AEDT).