Pearce Hanley has impressed.
There was a very Irish theme to two of the biggest upsets in the AFL this year as Melbourne Demons and the Brisbane Lions recorded landmark victories in round ten.
Jim Stynes memory and name was a constant as his beloved Demons finally recorded their first win in what’s been a turbulent season at the club, overcoming second placed Essendon by six points last Saturday night.
At the Gabba, Irish duo Pearce Hanley and Niall McKeever helped the Lions to a shock two-point win over the top of the ladder West Coast Eagles.
Hanley and McKeever notched up 13 and 11 disposals respectively in their first game together since round seven.
McKeever returned to the reserves for a two-week stint.
Elsewhere, it was business as usual for Collingwood’s Martin Clarke as he amassed 20 possessions in the Pies 97-point thumping of the Gold Coast Suns.
The win was the Melbourne based side’s seventh in succession cementing their place in the top four.
While Clarke is the sole Irish representative for the Pies senior squad as Caolan Mooney and Paul Cribbin await senior debuts, it looks like Cribbin is making strides for the reserves.
He was named among the best performers for the club’s feeder side in their 174 point to 65 defeat to Werribee at the weekend.
After making an impressive debut for the Sydney Swans in round eight, the last couple of weeks have not been as lucky for All-Ireland medalist Tommy Walsh.
Having been used as a sub in the Harbour City side’s round nine loss to St Kilda, he just missed out on a senior berth in the round ten squad for the Western Bulldogs fixture.
The Swans recorded a 92-point victory over the Melbourne side.
Carlton and Zach Tuohy’s woes continued as the Blues slumped to their third defeat in four games against Port Adelaide.
Having debuted against the Power and celebrated with a win last season, Tuohy was on the wrong side of a 54-point beating.
It does not get any easier for the Blues as they face a round 11 blockbuster against the reigning champions Geelong on Friday night.
