Wary of trying too hard, Oscar Allen estimates it's the best his body has felt in five years as he adjusts to life in Brisbane.
The former West Coast captain kicked two goals in the Lions' much-needed defeat of St Kilda on Saturday.
It was his and the club's first victory after two losses to begin their two-time AFL premiership defence, easing some pressure ahead of Thursday's Gabba clash with Collingwood.
Allen arrived from Perth with a chequered injury history, missing the entire 2022 season with a foot concern and playing just 11 and 12 games in the last two campaigns after ongoing knee soreness.
He's kicked four goals in three games this year but, after some tweaks to his gym program, says the telling statistic has been his training attendance rate.
"My body's responded really well to it ... it's probably the best I've felt in my body for five years," he told reporters on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old said gameday adrenaline meant his niggles rarely limited him on weekends.
"I've had a lot of interruptions ... it's more the week to week, ability to get out and train, work on my craft and get better," he said.
"I've been glad to be able to get out there pretty much every main session. That's been a goal and it's worked well, building confidence."
Going shoulder-to-shoulder with key defender and captain Harris Andrews, who has served two of this three-game ban, has kept Allen honest as he attempts to slide into the Lions' multi-pronged offensive arsenal.
"He's fresh and firing and has given me a bath a bit at training, it's been good fun," he said.
"I don't want to try too hard. It's a funny thing; you've got to hit the sweet spot because if you try too hard you over exert and get yourself in bad positions."
Collingwood (2-1) veteran Scott Pendlebury (Achilles) and captain Darcy Moore (calf) are both expected to miss the Magpies' Easter Thursday blockbuster while Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage is attempting to overcome a calf injury to play.
