The remarkable rise of Jay Lockhart hit its high point on Saturday as the North Launceston premiership player had a key hand in Melbourne's win over Fremantle.
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On his return from a knee injury, the 23-year-old was the most dangerous he has looked in the front half in his short AFL career, collecting career-best disposal numbers and equaling his personal best goal tally.
Lockhart had 21 possessions (11 uncontested and seven intercepts), six marks (one intercept), one clearance, 2.2, one goal assist, five score involvements and eight inside 50s.
His goals came at an important time as well, with his first coming came late in the second quarter as Melbourne started to make its run after Freo's fast start, and his second goal tied things up in the third quarter.
He then set up Tom McDonald for what would be the final goal of the game which secured the Demons the four points.
It was the second time in his short AFL career that Lockhart has proved to be the right man for the job after kicking the goal that gave his side the lead late in its thrilling win over Hawthorn in round seven.
He was also denied a third goal after co-captain Nathan Jones had a free kick reversed late in the third term, with the initial incident seeing Michael Walters reported for headbutting Lockhart, an act which has seen Walters suspended for a week.
Lockhart has played eight games this season since his late entry to Melbourne's list as a pre-season supplementary pick, averaging 8.8 kicks, 4.6 handballs, 5.1 marks and 2.1 tackles a game mainly as a forward, and he has also kicked 8.3.
Also on Saturday, Lauderdale's Mitch Robinson returned from his week off to again lead from the front for Chris Fagan's Brisbane as the Lions crushed St Kilda.
Again playing a midfield role and pushing forward, Robinson finished with 22 possessions, with 15 of those uncontested and six intercepts, seven marks (one intercept), two clearances, two tackles, 1.0, four score involvements, two rebound 50s and two inside 50s.
In Geelong's loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday night, Launceston defender Jake Koldojashnij collected 12 touches (five intercepts), four marks (two intercepts), four tackles, two rebound 50s and one inside 50.
It was an up and down afternoon for Tasmania's Collingwood duo in the Magpies' win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
High-flying defender Jeremy Howe, of Dodges Ferry, was out of the game early due to a calf injury.
Before that he had collected four touches, two marks, one score involvement and three rebound 50s.
"We believe he (Howe) has nicked his calf," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said on Sunday.
"We will let that settle and see how that pans out, but we think it's a soft-tissue injury."
Brody Mihocek was a constant presence in attack for the Pies, kicking 1.0 from 12 touches, five marks, two score involvements, four inside 50s and one rebound 50 after starting at centre-half forward with Hayden Crozier his starting opponent.
The round started with Launceston's Thomas Bellchambers one of the few Essendon players to hold their head high following the Bombers' loss to West Coast at Optus Stadium.
Bellchambers enjoyed himself in the ruck against Tom Hickey, winning 27 hit-outs, with 10 going to advantage.
Hickey had 26 hit-outs, but only five of his were to advantage.
Bellchambers was also able to have a stronger impact around the ground with 17 possessions (11 uncontested), five marks, six clearances, one tackle, 1.0, one goal assist, eight score involvements, three rebound 50s and three inside 50s.
But it wasn't all good news for the 29-year-old ruckman, with a moment in the first quarter attracting the attention of the match review officer.
Bellchambers was charged with has been charged with forceful front-on contact against Luke Shuey.
He was fined $3000 for the incident.
Match review officer Michael Christian said "based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as careless conduct, low impact and high contact.
"The incident was classified as a $5000 sanction as a second offence.
"The player (Bellchambers) can accept a $3000 sanction with an early plea."
But the most important Tasmanian football news of the weekend took place away from the AFL.
After an absence of 720 days between games, four-time premiership Hawk Grant Birchall finally made his return to football, lining up for Box Hill in the VFL.
Playing a half in a restricted minutes outing, Birchall gathered 10 disposals, six marks and laid a tackle in his usual role from half-back in Box Hill's win over Sandringham.
The 31-year-old, last played at AFL level in round 15, 2017, and is five games away from the 250-game milestone in the brown and gold.
Other Tasmanians who performed in the state competitions include Burnie's Robbie Fox, who had 32 disposals, 12 tackles and 1.0 for Sydney's NEAFL side against Canberra, while Smithton's Ryan Gardner had 10 disposals, 11 hitouts and 1.0 for Footscray against Collingwood after dropping back from the Western Bulldogs' side.
Launceston's Kade Kolodjashnij, who has again had a battle with concussion this season, hit the scoreboard for Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey Demons' win over Coburg.