MITCH Robinson is already shaping as one of the steals of last year's NAB AFL Draft after his eye-catching performance in Carlton's intra-club trial match last week.

Robinson's hard-nosed display that netted four goals and plenty of touches may have been overshadowed by other, somewhat less positive, events on the day but the fiery Tasmanian was pleased with his first hitout nonetheless.

"I just went into the game like I did every other VFL game last year; not wanting to take a backward step and just put my head over the ball," Robinson says.

"That's Tassie footy. There's a lot more playing the body … and you've just got to take it as it comes, and make a bit of a name for yourself. That's how I want to be [thought of] – as a hard player.

"I was in the forward line for the first time and kicked a few goals. I was pretty happy."

Robinson had played against men in both the SANFL (for West Adelaide) and the VFL (for the Tassie Devils) before he was included in the Tasmanian side as its over-age player for last year's under-18 championships.

He monstered his smaller opponents to win the Harrison Medal for best player in division two and took his game up a notch in division one to earn All-Australian honours.

"I just went in to the whole thing thinking ‘I've had VFL experience’ and just wanting to smash the younger boys," he says.

"The thing I really wanted to take into division one was a bit of pride. We had been losing a bit and I just wanted to get some toughness back in and put Tassie back on the map because we'd been going downhill in the last few years.

"I just wanted to make us seem a bit stronger and if that meant I had to put my head over the ball and knock a few blokes over then that was my job."

The Blues were surprised and delighted to snap up the 19-year-old with their second pick (40th overall) at the draft. So certain were they that the hard-running midfielder would be gone before then, recruiting manager Wayne Hughes hadn't even spoken with the lad's parents before he called out his name on draft day.

Months later, Carlton fans were thrilled with the impact he had in his first trial game, but it's fair to say the effect he had on his new teammates was more immediate.

"When I first got here I just wouldn't shut up and then I got told to shut up by Wiggo who said 'just pull your head in a little bit'," he recalls with a grin.

"After the first week I thought I better get to know everyone instead of talking so much.

"I asked who I should model myself on and they told me Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs. I've just been going hard at each training session like it's my last because I'm trying to get the respect of the boys, but really the only way I'm going to do that is to play games."

Robinson quickly earned the nickname ADD-sy (as in Attention Deficit Disorder) and you can't help but be struck by his energy when you speak to him.

He's wiry rather than skinny, but he still hopes to be able to add about four kg of muscle throughout his first season, which will almost certainly begin with a NAB Cup berth according to Brett Ratten.

"I sat down with Ratts just before the Christmas break and he said 'mate, just keep training the way you are and what can we do besides play you?’" he says.

"I want to play NAB Cup round one and I've done everything possible to put my name up for selection. Hopefully I can get in, go well and set myself up for the rest of the season.

"I'll just keep setting little goals. I want to play well in whatever game it is and if I keep doing that I'll be sweet."