With Jarrad Waite’s late withdrawal the challenge was thrown to Mitch Robinson . . . and the Taswegian was up and about early, staking a claim to Mark of The Year with the fly over Tyson Goldsack, and promptly slotting Carlton’s first.

“I got told I was going to play forward with ‘Waitey’ out . . . and Mick said to me if there’s mark there to be taken, go for it,” Robinson said in the Carlton rooms afterwards.

“I went for a couple early and it was good to grab one.”

Robinson, some 93 games and six seasons into his senior Carlton career, conceded that his preference is to play midfield, if ever circumstance allowed.

“I think I can give it a crack with a bit of aggression in midfield and hopefully I can get my chance there soon. But right now I’ll just play where I’m put.”

Like most of his ilk, Robinson will truly gain from the nine-day break to the Monday night match with St Kilda at Etihad and the bye week to follow. As he said: “It’ll be the same for me and all the boys this week, to focus on St Kilda, get the body right in recovery and be ready to play”.