The 21-year-old key defender from North Hobart, who had featured in the NAB Challenge, has been a ‘‘project’’ player for Gold Coast since being recruited with the 24th pick in the 2011 national draft, debuting in Saturday’s Q-Clash after three solid weeks in the NEAFL.

His role grew in importance after the late withdrawal of regular full-back Rory Thompson.

Schade, who stands 196 centimetres and 86 kilograms, was part of a defensive unit that kept Brisbane to 7.12, playing on Daniel McStay and Harris Andrews in the Suns’ breakthrough win.

He finished with eight touches, three marks and three tackles, and also pushed forward and had a shot at goal.

Also in that back six was Launceston’s Kade Kolodjashnij, who put in his best performance for 2015 with 24 touches (with seven rebound and three inside 50s) at 

75 per cent efficiency and five score involvements.

Jesse Lonergan, another ex-Launceston lad, suffered a knock to his right shoulder in his first game for 2015, playing a defensive role on Clarence’s Josh Green.

Lonergan finished with 12 touches and laid four tackles, while Green was held goalless, but did have five score involvements and 13 possessions.

Lauderdale’s Mitch Robinson tried hard in his best game for new club Brisbane, finishing with 28 touches at 64.3 per cent efficiency with five score involvements.

Clarence’s Jack Riewoldt was prominent in the second half as Richmond fell short against Geelong on Saturday.

With Tom Lonergan as his direct opponent, Riewoldt finished with 3.0 (which were part of eight score involvements) from 12 disposals and six marks after barely being sighted before the first break.

Launceston’s Jackson Thurlow enjoyed his afternoon, collecting a career-high 21 disposals out of defence at 95.2 per cent efficiency, six marks and seven score involvements.

Devonport duo Grant Birchall and Ben Brown both contributed on Saturday night as Hawthorn thrashed North Melbourne.

Birchall collected 23 touches at 95.7 per cent efficiency with three rebound 50s, eight score involvements and nine marks for the Hawks, while North’s Brown kicked 3.0 from 10 touches and five marks with Ben Stratton his opponent.

Dodges Ferry’s Jeremy Howe played both forward and back in Melbourne’s loss to Fremantle on Sunday, amassing 13 touches, five marks, three tackles and five score involvements.

Wynyard’s Colin Garland reacquainted himself with Hayden Ballantyne (who was goalless) in the Demons’ defence, finishing with 11 touches and four marks. Garland also had a head-clash with Matthew Pavlich, which saw the Dockers skipper subbed out of the game.

Launceston’s Thomas Bellchambers won 23 hit-outs, had 14 possessions, five score involvements and six marks in Essendon’s thrilling win over St Kilda on Sunday.

Saint Maverick Weller, of Burnie, collected 17 possessions and four score involvements playing the tagging role on Jobe Watson (who had 30 touches), while Glenorchy’s Jimmy Webster had 16 possessions at 81per cent efficiency, accumulating three marks, three tackles and five score involvements in his first game of 2015.

On Friday night, West Moonah’s Liam Jones again showed early promise for Carlton, but faded.

Jones was kept to 0.1 from eight touches and three marks by Nathan Brown in the big loss to Collingwood.