Of the couple of faces that we haven't seen in a while, the most significant came in the form of Grant Birchall.

His return to Hawthorn for the first time since round 15, 2017, was a seamless one, as save for a couple of moments of rust it looked like he hadn't missed a beat.

After starting on the bench in Hawthorn's win over Fremantle in his home state at UTAS Stadium, his entrance that brought a strong round of applause from the crowd of 13,006, and he was right into the thick of the action collecting a couple of possessions in no time at all.

The calming influence he has had on the Hawks' back-line for the previous 245 games was again on show, providing an important experienced head in that part of the ground, as he collected 21 disposals (10 of those in the final term, with 15 uncontested and seven intercepts total) at 81 per cent disposal efficiency, eight marks (one intercept), one clearance, one tackle, five rebound 50s, one inside 50 and one score involvement.

The other returning favourite was Jack Riewoldt. While is absence was not as long as Birchall's (he had been out since round six due to his own knee injury), his return was just as important for his side as Richmond start to get numbers back in the run to the finals.

With Sam Taylor looking after him in the win over the Giants, Riewoldt finished with 1.1, three goal assists and seven score involvements from 10 disposals, three marks, one clearance, two tackles, three inside 50s and one rebound 50.

Two other Tasmanian forwards had a strong impact in Brody Mihocek and Ben Brown.

Collingwood's Mihocek kicked 4.1 (an equal career-best goal haul), had two goal assists and eight score involvements in the Pies' win over West Coast on Friday, with two of his goals contributing to his side's strong start in the first term and his fourth a vital one in the final quarter comeback.

With his grand final nemesis Jeremy McGovern next to him, Burnie Dockers premiership player Mihocek finished with 19 possessions, 10 marks, three tackles and four inside-50s.

But an even stronger performer in front of the sticks was Devonport's Ben Brown, who booted 6.1 in North Melbourne's heartbreaking loss to Essendon to not only almost snatch victory for his side, but keep himself in the race for the Coleman Medal.

Playing on firstly Michael Hurley and then an injury-impacted Cale Hooker, Brown had four of his side's nine goals to the final change (when they were down by 18 points), before kicking the first, and then ultimately, his side's last of the final quarter, a moment which gave his side the lead which was only stolen back by Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti with 17 seconds left on the clock.

Brown finished with 18 possessions and 12 marks (both career-best numbers, as was his 15 kicks), one tackle, one inside 50, four hit-outs and nine score involvements.

He has leapfrogged Tom Hawkins into second place on the Coleman Medal table with 43.24 behind Jeremy Cameron (48.38).

The other final term goal for the Roos also had a Tasmanian flavour with North Launceston product Tarryn Thomas slotting a set shot during the pressure-packed period to continue his side's fightback.

That was one of two goals for Thomas, who kicked 2.2 and had five score involvements from 13 possessions (10 uncontested), three marks, one clearance, three tackles, one rebound 50 and two inside 50s.

The other significant performance came from Lauderdale's Mitch Robinson in Brisbane's win over Port Adelaide, a result that has seen Chris Fagan's side jump into third spot on the ladder.

Vision of Robinson standing up for teammate Lachie Neale, who was being physically targeted by Power tagger Cameron Sutcliffe while leaving the field of play, demonstrated his leadership, and then he backed it up with a strong showing in the midfield on a wet Adelaide Oval.

Robinson collected 21 possessions (14 uncontested and eight intercepts), five marks (two intercepts), three clearances, seven tackles, 1.0, seven score involvements, five inside 50s and one rebound 50.

On Saturday night, Hugh Greenwood enjoyed himself as Adelaide disposed of Gold Coast.

The Lauderdale product collected 22 possessions, seven marks, four clearances, eight tackles, 1.0 and nine score involvements, one rebound 50 and one inside 50. For the Suns, Burnie's Lachie Weller had 14 disposals, seven marks and two tackles.

It was a quiet afternoon for North Hobart's Liam Jones in Carlton's upset win over Sydney, with the key-defender, who played on Sam Reid, collecting just three touches and two marks.

North Launceston's Jay Lockhart was also quiet as Melbourne lost to the Western Bulldogs, with 10 touches, three marks, two tackles and two score involvements, and he also had some knee issues in the second term. Launceston's Jake Kolodjashnij missed Geelong's win over St Kilda with concussion.

There was also a Tasmanian connection to Collingwood's first-gamer John Noble, the son of David, the former Fitzroy footballer from North Hobart who is now Brisbane's general manager of football.

Noble, a mid-season draft selection, impressed with 18 touches and two marks.

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