Brisbane Lions’ Mitch Robinson joins TLC for Kids’ Tracky Dack Day

Having a family has changed Brisbane Lions player Mitch Robinson’s life, as the whole pride dresses down for a cause.

Welcoming his third child hit home for Brisbane Lions player Mitch Robinson, who admits having a family turned his life around.

Robinson and his partner Emma MacNeill welcomed their daughter Maali – a name that pays tribute to MacNeill’s Indigenous heritage -.at Mater Mothers on May 12, alongside their son Chance, 8, and daughter Charli, 6.

“It’s been six years since we had a baby so a lot of emotions came running back,” Robinson said.

In a special moment during the birth, it was Lions teammate Zac Bailey’s partner Emilie Morival-Gaier – a midwife – who by chance ended up helping them through the birth.

“It was actually really nice to have a familiar face and Emilie is amazing. The first thing I did was text Zac,” Robinson said.

“That’s something that will stay with us for a long time.”

Brisbane Lions star Mitch Robinson and Emma MacNeill with children Charli, 6, Chance, 8, and Maali Robinson, two weeks, in their trackpants for Tracky Dack Day. Picture: Josh Woning

Robinson and Ms MacNeill moved to Brisbane after he was delisted by Carlton in 2014 following a series of off-field incidents and picked up by the Lions around the same time Chance was born.

“Without Emma and the kids I wouldn’t know where I’d be,” Robinson said.

“I had a bit of a chequered past in my AFL career and having Chance, it put things into perspective. I had to grow up and make sure I had an income and a good life.”

“That birth really changed my life for the better.”

In 2015 he was the joint winner of Brisbane’s best and fairest award and has been with the club ever since, getting a tattoo of each of his children along the way – a spot on his left arm is already saved for Maali.

He also credits MacNeill, his partner of 11 years, for his life turnaround, putting her career on hold to raise their children while he finishes out his AFL career.

“Definitely all my success on the field is because of her,” Robinson said.

“Everything I do now correlates to what’s best for them.”

On Friday Robinson and his family took part in TLC for Kids’ Tracky Dack Day, which fundraises for sick kids as an act of solidarity with hospitalised children.