Again proving he doesn't need much of the ball to have an impact, the 19-year-old was damaging both in the midfield and up forward, with 12 touches (nine contested), five tackles, three marks (one a wonderful contested grab in attack in the second term), 2.1, one goal assist and four score involvements.

It was a performance that drew praise from caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw following the Roos' loss to Greater Western Sydney at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Sunday.

"He went into the midfield in the last quarter and I think he got the first two clearances, so that was a really pleasing sign," Shaw said.

"He looked pretty damaging in the first quarter, but then in the last quarter he went in (the middle) to give us a bit of a spark.

"He provided us with a little bit, which was good."

Sunday was the second outing for Thomas, who was drafted from North Launceston with the eighth pick in last year's national draft, in the state's capital after also collecting 12 possessions in the loss to the Swans.

The Rising Star nominee is averaging 12.4 touches, 2.6 marks and 3.4 tackles a game from 11 outings this season.

Teammate Ben Brown is comparatively more of a Blundstone Arena veteran, with Sunday his 16^th outing, and added 2.3 to his tally at the venue with Phil Davis as his opponent.

The Devonport product is the leading goal-kicker at the ground with 30.18.

He also had six marks and 10 possessions, one goal assist, seven score involvements and goal denied by the score review system.

In a frustrating outing, he also caught the attention of the umpires, and was put in the book for striking Matt Buntine in the second quarter.

In a positive for Brown the charge on Monday was thrown out.

Match Review Officer Michael Christian said after the incident was assessed it was determined "Buntine takes possession of the football in the backline for GWS. Brown moves towards Buntine and makes high contact. It was the view of the MRO there was insufficient force to constitute a reportable offence."

Brown was also troubled by an ankle/foot problem.

He remains in third spot on the Coleman Medal table, with 34.18, behind Geelong's Tom Hawkins (35.13) who had the week off, with Giant Jeremy Cameron at the top of the tree with 40.29 after 1.0 against the Roos.

The clash against the Giants was also the 200th for North favourite Ben Cunnington, who holds the games record at Blundstone Arena with Shaun Atley with both featuring in 19 of the 20 matches there.

On Saturday, Smithton's Ryan Gardner got his second taste of the big-time as the Western Bulldogs held on in a thriller against Carlton.

But the second outing for the mid-season rookie draft selection was a quiet one, with just three touches, 1.0 and two score involvements, with Tasmanian born Levi Casboult spending time on him.

Casboult has been a pillar a strength in defence for the Blues in the absence of North Hobart's Liam Jones.

Fellow North-West Coaster Lachie Weller had a better time of it for Gold Coast.

Weller, of Burnie, was dominant for the Suns from defence in their loss to St Kilda, finishing the clash in Townsville with 27 possessions at 78 per cent disposal efficiency.

Fourteen of his touches were uncontested with seven intercepts, two marks (one intercept), three clearances, one tackle, one goal assist and two score involvements,

Weller, who is into his second year at the Suns after starting his career with Fremantle, has been one of the leading lights for the expansion club this season, averaging 23.8 touches, 4.3 marks and 2.1 tackles a game.

He is equal 15^th in the league for total rebound 50s (66), third in rebound 50s per game (7.33), second in metres gained per game (535.67), equal seventh in total bounces (17) and sixth in bounces per game (1.89).

On Friday, Launceston's Thomas Bellchambers was a solid contributor as Essendon got the job done against Hawthorn.

Bellchambers won 17 hit-outs (eight to advantage), and had nine possessions, six marks, two clearances, 1.1 and three score involvements, while the Hawks' number one ruck option Ben McEvoy also had a strong game with 25 hit-outs (six to advantage), 15 possessions, 10 marks, 1.0, one goal assist and seven score involvements.

The round started with Lauderdale's Hugh Greenwood part of the Adelaide side that got the job done against Richmond on Thursday.

Greenwood did his bit both in the midfield and the forward line, finishing with 20 possessions at 70 per cent disposal efficiency, with 11 uncontested touches and two intercept possessions.

But his greatest impact came with eight tackles, and he had one mark, two clearances, 1.0 and five score involvements.

Meanwhile, Grant Birchall looks to be edging closer to a return to senior football, with the four-time premiership Hawk hoping to play at least a half in the VFL with Box Hill on the weekend.

The 31-year-old's journey back from serious knee problems was disrupted by a calf injury earlier in the season. Birchall, who has played 245 games, has not been sighted in a Hawthorn jumper since round 15, 2017, due to knee problems.