HERITIER Lumumba says his first season at Melbourne was an “action packed” journey, but a challenging one and he is certain he will have a greater impact at the club in 2016.

Speaking to Dee TV, Lumumba said starting life at a new club, after 10 seasons at Collingwood, couldn’t be underestimated.

Lumumba played 19 matches in his first season at Melbourne – including his 200^th AFL match in the club’s opening round win over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG – but missed three matches in the second half of the season through injury.

He said with a season under his belt at the Demons, he is adamant his form will be at a higher level next year. 

“Going into a whole new environment forces you out of your comfort zone. Every day was a new challenge,” he said.

“There were new philosophies to learn and new personalities to work with. That can be unsettling and I found that to be a challenge, but one that I knew I had to take on and really be mindful of every step on the way.

“The teammates that I have – you wouldn’t find a nicer bunch of guys and a closer bunch of guys who genuinely care for one another. I hadn’t experienced that to this level – the amount of unity that this playing group has with one another and the care.”

Despite having played 199 matches with Collingwood, including the 2010 premiership, Lumumba said in many ways it was like being a new draftee again.

“It is very similar to the draft process where you’re inducted into a new club. The advantages are having the experience of playing the game and knowing how to prepare, what standards get certain results. In that regard, that’s a huge advantage coming across [to a new club] with the experience,” he said.

“I was petrified walking in here for the first time. If I didn’t have Chris Dawes here – I may as well have just held his hand for the first two weeks – [I don’t know what I would’ve done] because I was petrified coming across to a brand new club.

“From having public turmoil and not knowing how it would be received, it was scary. I had a great mate of mine, who could help me through it, but I soon found out I was embraced immediately by coaches, support staff and players, so it made it very easy.”

Lumumba said he was most excited by the club’s younger brigade coming through.  

“We have some absolute guns playing in our team. I was actually speaking to [former Collingwood teammate] Nick Maxwell about it [and saying] if you could pick any key forward and any key defender in the AFL, you’d pick Tom McDonald and you’d pick Jesse Hogan for the future,” he said.

“I didn’t know how good our young players would be. Christian Salem makes a huge difference to the team. He reminds me of Alan Didak with the way he is with his foot skills – it’s just beautiful to watch.

“Then you have someone like Jack Viney who is just a beast – he’s actually scary with how intense he is and how much better he is going to get, simply because he just wills himself to get the most out of himself every moment he is here and away from the football club.”

“Guys like Angus Brayshaw, Alex Neal-Bullen and Billy Stretch are more conditioned and know what’s required. We have a really good core leadership group, but I do believe the success of our football club will be determined by the development of the younger list.

Lumumba said he was “very confident” about having a greater impact next year and had already set his sights on a big pre-season campaign. He also backed the club to go to the next level in 2016.

“We’re in great hands with the coaching staff. All of the coaches are fantastic, they’re highly professional, they’re passionate and they care for us players as human beings. We have a playing group who are hungry,” he said.

“Having been at Collingwood and winning a premiership with the young list … I’m very confident with this list. I don’t know how much longer I have to play, but I do think that this football club will win a premiership in the future.

“With the talent, development, framework and coaches we have – it’s certainly possible.”