What made Brown's game so significant on Friday night was the little things.

There were strong marks when pushing up the ground, little knock-ons to teammates which helped set up goals and his positioning in marking contests which helped runners take advantage of any crumbs.

With his now trademark energy and enthusiasm on full display, the 200-centimetre, 98-kilogram forward-ruckman first had Harry Taylor as an opponent, before Tom Lonergan moved onto him late in the first quarter and stayed with him for the rest of the night.

Despite having just eight possessions and not kicking a goal himself, the 21-year-old from Devonport's five score involvements and one goal assist are evidence he wasn't just making up the numbers.

Brown also took three marks and laid four tackles, and once again didn't look overawed on the September stage.

Teammate Nathan Grima, of Evandale, spent most of his night playing on Tom Hawkins, but when the Tomahawk was doing most of his damage in the final term, it was Scott Thompson by his side, be that through either a change of opponent or just losing Grima in traffic.

Grima was solid in defence, taking a couple of key intercept marks along the way, with Hawkins kicking his goals in bursts, two late in the first term and three late on.

The 29-year-old Grima had 13 possessions at 85 per cent disposal efficiency, applied six pressure acts and had two score involvements.

Conversely, Launceston's Jackson Thurlow seemed to struggle under the finals spotlight.

In just his 10th game, the 19-year-old started on the ground after being the Cats' sub in their qualifying final, spending time across half-forward and half-back,

He had just five possessions (all uncontested), applied 10 pressure acts and had two score involvements before he was given the red vest in the third quarter.

Brown, with 10 career games under his belt,  and Grima with 85, now find themselves just one win away from a grand final appearance, and on Friday night at ANZ Stadium will come up against a Sydney side which North defeated by 43 points in their only meeting this year.

While Brown had yet to make his AFL debut back in Round 4, Grima was part of a stingy Kangaroos defensive outfit which held the eventual minor premier to 6.12 (48) in wet conditions at the SCG.

Grima collected 20 disposals took four marks and had nine rebound 50s playing mainly on the resting ruckmen, one of his best outings for the season.

But Kurt Tippett didn't play that April afternoon, with that responsibility likely to fall to Grima this week.

Save for a surprise debut to George Town's Toby Nankervis at Sydney, Grant Birchall will be the only other Tasmanian vying for the grand final when Hawthorn face Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.