They say honesty is the best policy.
Still, nothing could quite prepare Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff when prized recruit Mitch Robinson described the Lions as "walkovers".
Robinson revealed on Monday that he was asked what his former AFL club Carlton thought of the Lions when he joined his new team's pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.
And it's fair to say the response did not quite agree with the passionate Rockliff.
"At the Noosa camp we spoke about how we (Carlton) perceived Brisbane and it was like coming up here, trying to get the win and come home," Robinson said.
"We felt it was a bit of a walkover team.
"We will try to change that now, have a game structure, be a hard aggressive team."
Robinson admitted the home truth did not go down well with Rockliff at the team meeting.
"Tom Rockliff stood up straight away and said, well I can't say the word," he said.
"But it hit home a bit and you could see the passion in the boys.
"I think that spurred on the pre-season a little bit."
A revitalised Brisbane are unbeaten in the pre-season NAB Challenge, backing up two wins with a hard-fought last round draw with rivals Gold Coast.
Robinson this year chimes into a classy Lions midfield that also features fellow new recruits Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen.
Yet the jury is out on who will kick the goals as Brisbane begin life without retired forward Jonathan Brown.
But Robinson said Carlton's small forwards may have provided a sign of things to come from the Lions this season.
"There are a few guys there who have proven they can play the small forward role," he said.
"Josh Green led last year with 33 (majors).
"We've got a bit of pressure on Michael Close and (Daniel) McStay and those blokes coming through - but they are young so it will take a few more years for them to settle in.
"But it has been proven before you don't need big forwards to kick goals and still win games - we know what we have to do."
Brisbane's AFL season opener is against Collingwood at the Gabba on April 4.
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