Developing big man Mitch Lewis was one of the biggest positives to emerge from Hawthorn’s Easter Monday loss to the Cats.
Standing at 198cm, Lewis was a dangerous presence up forward, finishing with one goal from three scoring opportunities.
Lewis’ call up came after he booted 38 goals in the VFL last season and proved himself as a contested-marking beast who can also go into the ruck.
His first two AFL games in 2018 were nothing to write home about, but his overall campaign was seriously promising.
Lewis seemed primed to break into the Hawks' side from the start of this year, but patchy performances in pre-season matches – other than an exciting glimpse against Richmond – suggested he wasn't quite ready.
Instead, Jon Ceglar resumed his ruck partnership with star big man Ben McEvoy and did his bit in attack, while Lewis battled away at state league level.
The change was made for this week and it coincided not only with Ceglar being dropped but All Australian forward Jack Gunston going into defence.
That left Roughead and Lewis as Hawthorn's tall targets, although Roughy also served as the ruck deputy.
It was as if coach Alastair Clarkson was saying: "Show me what you've got, Mitch."
Ricky Henderson gifted Lewis, opposed mostly by dual Cats club champion Mark Blicavs, his first goal from the square in the opening term.
It was just reward for his efforts, given how hard he worked for everything else he got.
