'SUGAR' Kane Lucas had every reason to look forward to his second year with Carlton after a promising debut season.

The skilful utility broke through for eight games after being taken 12th overall at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft and impressed with his poise and decision-making under pressure.

But after playing in the Blues' 2011 season opener against Richmond, he was sent back to the VFL where he suffered a medial ligament injury that had a significant effect on him both physically and mentally.

Lucas managed just one more senior game (round 24), but the lessons of that tough year have not been lost on the 20-year-old whose pre-season has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff at Visy Park.

"It definitely wasn't the best year of football for me," Lucas says.

"I started OK, but then had the medial ligament strain that was really frustrating.

"I was a bit mentally fatigued towards the end of last season and I just couldn't get things right with myself, but I think in the end I took a lot from that experience.

"When you have a year like I did there are a lot of things to work on, but I think the biggest thing for me was just getting some confidence back and having some self-belief in my abilities.

"I think I'm a lot stronger now so I'm looking forward to better things this year."

Lucas credits the club's October training camp in Doha and Abu Dhabi as a key reason for his optimism ahead of the 2012 premiership campaign.

The Blues took a group of mostly younger players to the Middle East where they were put through their paces at state-of-the-art training facilities across a three-week period.

"When you think of those places you don't really think of AFL, but I was open to the idea because I knew I had to get a big pre-season under my belt," Lucas says.

"Once we got there I just tried to take everything as it came and I came away feeling like it was a really helpful experience.

"I think the guys took a lot away from it."

Lucas holidayed in Bali after the camp where he took some time out to absorb the experiences of 2011 and reset his focus on the new year.

The Perth lad is comfortable with life off the field having recently moved in with teammate Marcus Davies, although he admits neither has had a crack at cooking dinner just yet.

With the NAB Cup just around the corner, Lucas has a stellar summer on the track behind him and is ready to move on to the next phase of his career.

"My first year everything was just a real buzz," he says.

"I was lucky enough to play my first AFL game and I was excited just to be around the likes of Chris Judd.

"My second year was quite hard having played a few games in my first season, but now I feel like I've got to the point where I can really help the team.

"Missing out last year is definitely a motivation for me. Every game you miss is a game you can't get back. The years have flown by and I really want to be a part of something special.

"I just want to give whatever I can to the club."