Robinson, the hard-nut from Lauderdale, who has been rejuvenated this year under the guidance of Queenstown's Fagan in a new on-field role, on Wednesday said Fagan had had a "massive influence on my life".

"You talk about footy, but also outside of footy he has been massive for me,'' the 30-year-old said.

"That is as well as (fellow Tasmanian) David Noble, I was able to have some honest conversations with him and he has really invested in the players' well being, not just football, and both have worked really well in that space.

"I honestly think that while Fages has been a great coach, he is also just a great communicator.

"He can communicate with the oldest blokes in the team and the youngest as well, and that teaching background really helps with that, and I just love the way he goes about his footy.

"He knows how to have a laugh and he knows how to be serious, and there are a few things that have helped turn this club around, and he and David Noble are big parts of that.

"He knows when to pull me in and he knows when to let me go, and he is great to talk to not just about football, but life."

Fagan, who has guided Brisbane to second spot on the ladder with five rounds to go, was the instigator of a positional move that has given Robinson a new lease of life, as rather than being an inside bull he is doing his best work on a wing at present.

He admitted this change, and the success the Lions have had this year, had ensured this year was shaping up to be his most enjoyable in the big league.

"I had a pretty open and honest chat with Fagan when we were on our Tassie camp in Hobart in January,'' said Robinson, who has played 185 games for Carlton and Brisbane and last week signed a two year contract extension.

"We had obviously recruited a lot of good players like Lincoln McCarthy up forward and Charlie Cameron was ready to come back into the team, and in the midfield we had Jarryd Lyons and Lachie Neale come into the team, so I was pushed out of those roles and was kind of put into the 'B' team, and that didn't sit well with me with the footy I was playing and how I thought I was going at that time in my career.

"We had a really honest conversation and he told me he thought there was a really good spot for me on the wing, and I could be a new 'modern-day' winger, as a lot of the ball goes through the wing and you have to run back hard and support your team in defence, and then you to get back up forward and create a contest there.

"After a few trial matches I started to get the hang of it, and I have really enjoyed it and I do feel rejuvenated, not only through that but with the new players that we have in the team.

"Personally this feels like a good year for me and the club. We've had probably four tough years down the bottom of the ladder, and now we are starting to win a lot of games and everything is starting to fall into place, so from that aspect it has been fun."

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It would be hard to find another Tasmanian AFL product who has as much pride in his home state as Robinson.

"It is always a joy to go back and play in my home state,'' said Robinson, who is preparing for his third AFL outing in Tasmania.

"I was thankful when I got to Brisbane that they do play in Tassie, as in my six years at Carlton we didn't go down there, and it is always good to get back down there and be able to perform in front of friends and family.

"Being able to play in front locals is always good, and especially the Tassie young kids coming up so they can see that playing AFL is a dream that can come true."

While he'd admitted the recent dramas in Tasmanian football had got him worried, but with the Tasmanian Devils' debut in the NAB League and the VFL team set to come in in 2021, he said he was confident things were on the right track pathway wise.

It is also positive at the Lions as they look for their fourth win in a row against the Hawks, which includes a 33-point win at UTAS Stadium last season.

Robinson said a "winning anywhere and any time" attitude would ensure the visit to Tasmania was not a daunting one, despite Hawthorn's strong record at the ground and last week's win over Geelong which saw it return to finals calculations.

"They (Hawthorn) like to move the ball well and they have great game plans when it comes to switching it,'' he said.

"Obviously they are a great team when it comes to marking the ball in defence, and we know if we can bring the ball to ground we will have an advantage.

"It is always a midfield battle for us, as if we can get the ball going forward with time spent in the forward half we will be a big chance to win the game, and the old cliché of contested football and tackles will need to be high from us as their disposal efficiency is top five in the AFL, so we need to pressure and push that down.

"As a winger, I will be looking at a (Tom) Scully and a (Ricky) Henderson or a (Isaac) Smith and their running patterns, so if I can nullify what they do in the game."

Robinson believed Josh Walker or Marcus Adams would replace the suspended Harris Andrews for the 1.45pm clash.

Teammate Darcy Gardiner will play his 100^th match.