By Beth Newman
New University of Queensland recruit, Brodie Tebbutt, hasn’t missed a beat at his new footy home.
Originally from Western Australia, Tebbutt came to the Red Lions on a scholarship after three years at Morningside and said he felt immediately at ease at his new club.
Tebbutt is one of a number of scholarship students at the club, including his former Morningside teammate Dustin Harris and Lions Academy player, Cameron Stevenson.
“There’s no division between the older guys and the younger guys which makes it a good environment,” he said.
With the club preparing for a step up in competition for the second time in two years, Tebbutt said the intensity was high as players competed for senior spots.
“Because the uni has gone up a level, everyone’s trying to push for that senior selection and everyone’s trying to push to impress,” he said.
“You’ve got people that are competing for spots and there’s no complacency.
“When I got here, I had no idea who played seniors, who played reserves based on attitudes.
“There’s no one who’s been arrogant or anything like that so it’s a good environment.”
Tebbutt played a game as a top-up for the SUNS reserves in 2012, but his 2013 was played out in reserves as he battled with a leg injury.
Grogan medallist, Nathan Kinch, and former Brisbane Lions player, Adam Spackman, were both key influences on Tebbutt’s football during his time at Morningside.
“Adam Spackman taught me a fair bit. I learnt a bit off him and Nathan Kinch,” he said.
“You learn a lot off those guys because Adam has been with the Lions and Nathan is a champion in his own right.
Tebbutt is looking for more senior opportunities at the Red Lions, and said he was keen to take what he had learned at the Panthers and improve this season.
“I really want to try and have an impact on the team this season,”
“I think it’s good to come here now and try and take what I’ve learned and pass it on to other people and try to excel in my football.
“You see the guys who have been on AFL club lists and the majority of them have set higher training standards. There’s a lot to learn and lucky I was there a few years and I got to comprehend a fair bit of it, so it was good.”
“There’s certain little things that when you’re doing drills, you just implement.
“They’re the little things, but they matter in the end.”
Tebbutt will have to wait until June to take on his former teammates, with the Red Lions hosting Morningside in a round eight clash.
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