Ironically, his return from serious injury came at the same time that several of his more established teammates at Geelong (Jimmy Bartel, Mathew Stokes and Tom Lonergan) started stints on the sidelines.

Playing mainly in defence, the 21-year-old from Launceston collected 19 possessions at 78 per cent disposal efficiency and took six marks, had six rebound 50s, applied 10 pressure acts (including two tackles) and had three score involvements (including 1.0) in his 11th game of senior footy.

He was happy to throw himself into contests, showing no ill effects of his pre-season training accident.

Fellow former Launceston Football Club player Kade Kolodjashnij struggled for the Suns, collecting just 11 disposals and three marks.

Hobart’s Aaron Hall played his first game of season, and save for an early goal had no real impact.

At Aurora Stadium, Devonport’s Grant Birchall did as he pleased as Hawthorn smashed the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

The running defender collected 30 possessions, and the fact 26 of them were uncontested was a sign he was under no pressure.

His touches came at the elite disposal efficiency rate of 

93.3 per cent, he took five marks, sent the ball inside 50 six times, had seven score involvements, and managed a goal himself.

The previous night another Devonport product, Ben Brown, made it two strong showings in a row for North Melbourne in the thrilling loss to Port Adelaide.

He took six grabs, kicked 3.0 (to make it 6.1 for the season) and had six score involvements, with Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile his opponents.

Also among the goals on Saturday night was Clarence’s Jack Riewoldt, who kicked 4.0 and had 10 score involvements from 12 possessions and six marks on Justin Clarke in Richmond’s big win over Brisbane.

For the Lions, Lauderdale’s Mitch Robinson had 14 touches, four inside 50s and four tackles, while Clarence’s Josh Green kicked just 1.0 from 12 touches.

Launceston’s Thomas Bellchambers had the better of the ruck battle with Cameron Wood in Essendon’s victory over Carlton, winning the hit-outs 28 to 23, and finished with 10 possessions.

West Moonah’s Liam Jones was kept to just 1.1 from eight touches by Dustin Fletcher.

At the Adelaide Oval, Dodges Ferry’s Jeremy Howe had a strong game in defence for Melbourne, collecting 20 touches at 80 per cent disposal efficiency, having eight rebound 50s and taking five marks.

Wynyard’s Colin Garland was loose in defence for the visitors, finishing with 17 touches and four rebound 50s.

Lauderdale’s Andrew Phillips was subbed out of Greater Western Sydney’s loss to Sydney (his first game of the year) in the third term, with just four touches and eight hit-outs.

On Friday night, Burnie’s Maverick Weller had the responsibility of tagging Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury in St Kilda’s loss. He collected 17 touches (12 contested) and laid seven tackles, while Pendlebury finished with 29 possessions.