Mitch Robinson had the best game of his career on the weekend, booting four goals in Brisbane’s win over GWS.
The 31-year-old former Blue has excelled since joining Brisbane as a delisted free agent at the end of 2014 and has emerged as a leader at the club.
Carlton made the surprising decision to cut Robinson in 2014, following an off-field incident during the season and a falling out of favour with then-coach Mick Malthouse.
Given where Carlton currently sits at the halfway point of the 2021 season, passionate Blues man Andy Maher believes Robinson is exactly what his side needs.
Maher: “He is exactly what Carlton needs right now. Exactly what they need,” he said on SEN’s Bob and Andy.
Bob Murphy: “He really is. An extrovert, grunt, loud.”
Maher: “Fight. Never goes down, never beaten, never stops putting in.”
Murphy: “Never stops directing traffic.”
Maher: “He’s a total pro. Say what you like about him, the left-field nature of his personality, say what you like, siren to siren he rings every last bit of what he’s got out of himself Mitch Robinson and he’s a bloody credit to himself. I love the bloke, I really do.
“They’re lucky to have him and the other mob, I guarantee you there aren’t too many people around Carlton that didn’t wish they had him back. And if they don’t think they need Mitch Robinson, they don’t know what they need.”
Murphy: “He’s the poster boy for a second-clubm’n.”
Carlton not only has a need for leadership, particularly late in games, but their midfield depth has also been called into question.
Robinson has played 121 games since joining the Lions and has been a fixture in their best 22 from the beginning.
He has averaged 20 disposals per game this season as part of their midfield and wing rotation.