SAM Frost says he doesn’t feel any pressure to step-up in the absence of former Demon and now Hawthorn defender James Frawley.

Frost, who joined Melbourne from GWS in October, was effectively recruited to replace Frawley, who departed Melbourne as a free agent at the end of last season.

But the 21-year-old said apart from a fleeting thought about the situation, he didn’t feel he had to fill the shoes of the more experienced Frawley.

“It’s crossed my mind, but it’s something I don’t think about too much,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I never knew ‘Chip’, so I wouldn’t say there is pressure. There is a role to fill and I can only work hard to fill that. He’s a great player, but I don’t feel any pressure as I’m coming in as he’s left.

“Fingers crossed I’ll be fit and in form come the season, but my plan is to play predominantly in a key defensive post, alongside Tom McDonald hopefully.”

Frost said he was particularly impressed by the backline group, which he said was a tight-knit bunch. 

“Jade [Rawlings] has been really good for me so far and it’s a really good backline group. It’s got good leaders with Lynden Dunn and Grimesy (Jack Grimes), so I love working with that group,” he said.

“There is a huge emphasis on the tightness of the group. They do a lot together away from the track and we’re always working with each other and competing with each other.

“Jade oversees all of that, so it’s just a really positive group. It’s a team within a team, but it’s a great group.”