North-West Coast duo Ben Brown and Grant Birchall warmed up for September with strong showings as the make-up of the final eight was confirmed.
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Brown started like a house-on-fire in North Melbourne’s loss to Greater Western Sydney with three first quarter goals, but Giant Phil Davis kept him in check after that.
Brown finished with 3.2 from six marks and 11 touches.
He finished the home and away season as North Melbourne’s leading goalkicker with 41.18.
Birchall, also from Devonport, collected 22 touches at 81.8 per cent disposal efficiency rate and took six marks in the win over Collingwood which cemented a top-four finish for the Hawks.
The other Tasmanian likely to feature in the finals, Geelong’s Jake Kolodjashnij.
But he ended the Cats’ big win over the Demons on the bench as a precaution after suffering calf tightness.
Before that, the Launceston defender had three touches, took two marks and laid three tackles.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said post-game that Kolodjashnij issue wasn’t serious.
Other Tasmanians on the list of finalists are Toby Nankervis at Sydney, Kieran Lovell and Zac Webster at Hawthorn, Ryan Gardner and the injured Jackson Thurlow at Geelong and Hugh Greenwood at Adelaide.
For those whose years have ended, Lauderdale’s Mitch Robinson had the tagging role on Jack Steven in Brisbane’s loss to St Kilda.
Robinson had 24 touches, took five marks and laid four tackles while Steven finished with 31 touches.
Burnie’s Maverick Weller finished his strong season with 17 touches, five marks and five tackles for the Saints.
Another man ending a top year with a strong game was Dodges Ferry’s Jeremy Howe.
He took 11 marks and had 24 possessions in the back-half for the Magpies against the Hawks.
Launceston’s Kade Kolodjashnij had 19 touches and took six marks as Gold Coast crashed to Port Adelaide.
Teammate Aaron Hall, from Hobart, had 27 touches, laid five tackles and took three marks.
Clarence’s Jack Riewoldt kicked 1.2 from 12 touches and six marks as Richmond were demolished by Sydney.
Fellow forward Liam Jones at Carlton was also quiet.
Jones, from North Hobart, had just five touches, two marks and two tackles and no scoreboard impact.
Burnie’s Lachie Weller got another opportunity further up the ground in Fremantle’s win over the Western Bulldogs.
Weller finished with 26 touches, took eight marks and laid two tackles in what was another good showing for the Rising Star nominee.
Alex Fair
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
