ON THE field, Marcus Adams is almost the perfect athletic specimen: as strong as anyone on Brisbane's list, explosively quick off the mark, and possessing endurance the envy of most midfielders.

Off the field, he is quietly spoken, thoughtful and, as he puts it, meticulous to a fault.

And Brisbane loves every part of it.

Sitting down with Adams for an extended one-on-one chat, it doesn't take long to realise he's not your average footballer.

The 26-year-old defender considers his answers to every question and is happy to expand at length, giving an insight into a man trying to get every ounce out of the talent he was given.

It wasn't always that way, though.

Adams said the one-punch attack that almost claimed the life of his older brother Luke in 2011 certainly changed his perspective on things.

"He was told he wouldn't be able to use his left side properly, wouldn't be able to finish his uni degree, wouldn't be able to drive," Adams said. 

"The persistence he showed through that and [the fact he] was able to achieve so many things that people said he couldn't purely through desire to do so and forging those good work habits. 

"At the time, I didn't realise how efficient he was in achieving outcomes they said he never would, but when you go away and think about how things came to be, there's always a good reason behind it.

"I learnt from that that you get out what you put in. He put in more than what most people who might have got a worse outcome because people say you can't do it."

Since being drafted by the Bulldogs from West Perth in late 2015, Adams has had plenty of chances to prove people wrong.

He's had two separate foot injuries that cost him six months each, a hip problem that took five months, a shoulder reconstruction, and surgery on a broken finger.

Adams also had a knee problem that took the first half of 2019 to shake and then required a clean-up in October that stymied his pre-season.

Despite not being able to run until early December, the 93kg brute remarkably finished second in Brisbane's 3km time trial in early January, narrowly trailing Jarrod Berry.

"You learn that you can't just use an injury or something holding you back as a reason to stop completely," he said.

"I've always tried to do as much of whatever I can do as possible.

"Instead of seeing it as a burden or something to hold you back, I try and see it as an opportunity."

In this instance, it was riding a bike to remain fit. With a shoulder injury, it might be extra kicking practice. 

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Sitting on a lounge chair in a cafe at Hobart's University of Tasmania, this is when the conversation moves to Adams' meticulous nature.

He likes to dot every 'i' and cross every 't', and you get the sense he's been conscious of what other people have thought in the past.

 But not anymore.

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"Being drafted at [age] 22, I'd worked and been involved in a company and dealt with other companies and seen how organisations interact," he said.

"I don't think I've come across an organisation where everyone is so accommodating, supportive, enthusiastic about what we're doing. 

"I think our club has developed something pretty special.

"That has made it a bit easier to be that meticulous nature, it's supported. I don't feel weird.

"You can feel like an absolute weirdo at times if you're the one guy not drinking or not eating a certain type of food."

Once Adams arrived in Brisbane 15 months ago, it didn't take him long to strike up a friendship with ruckman Stefan Martin.

They're like two peas in a pod in many respects.

Two of the most professional players at the club and two of the deepest thinkers.

The pair often help each other navigate through any setbacks or difficult times, unravelling why they are the way they are.

"Coming here and seeing Stef's respect in the group, I thought "wow, you can be like that and be respected amongst the group".

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"Stef and I both take that approach of maximising what we've got. Neither of us starting out at 20 years of age were going to be the guys picked on talent.

"You don’t have to be an outlier, [a] weirdo that's ostracised. 

"It's a pretty amazing environment in that regard that everybody's individual differences are respected and supported in the group.

"I can't speak highly enough of the culture that's been developed.

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"It's not just changed my views in a footy sense, but a life sense.

"For the most part a lot of people just want to bring other people down rather than lifting themselves and the people around them up.

"The club conforms to you."

Adams played the final 10 games of last season and was a crucial cog in the Lions' backline with his ability to play on tall and medium forwards.

He fits nicely alongside Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner in a flexible defensive unit that should only improve the more time they spend together.

Whatever happens in 2020 and beyond, you can bet Adams is going to wring every last bit out of himself to achieve whatever he can.

"Neale Daniher says you can't choose your environment and circumstance, but you can choose your mindset.

"The more you hear about him, he seems like a man amongst boys in society.

"The leader he is in society is pretty special.

"If you learn a lesson from him, you're not going to be too far off the mark."