THERE'S something strangely familiar in Sam Weideman's sudden emergence at Melbourne.

The Demons busted the AFL's longest finals drought when they claimed back-to-back top-eight scalps in rounds 22 and 23, and Weideman's unlikely role didn't go unnoticed.

The 21-year-old probably wouldn't have been sighted again this year if not for Jesse Hogan's latest injury misfortune.

Weideman found himself on a plane bound for Perth, with Melbourne needing to win one of its last two games to end a September absence that extended to 2006.

He had accumulated 78 disposals and two goals in his previous 10 AFL matches, so to predict him to be a key piece in any success in 2018 was ambitious.

It wasn't that the 196cm Eastern Ranges graduate hadn't shown glimpses, including a six-goal haul in the VFL last year – four of which came in a single quarter – and bags of five and seven this season.

The problem was that form was yet to translate to the AFL. Tom McDonald recalls a comparably bumpy journey for another celebrated Demon.

"Sam's always had this ability he's shown the last couple of weeks – he's been playing that way in the VFL – and for him it just hadn't quite clicked in the AFL until the last couple of weeks," McDonald told AFL.com.au.

"It was a very similar situation with 'Gawny' (dual All Australian ruckman Max Gawn).

"I reckon Gawny's first three or four years, while he had more injury problems than Sam, you could see what he was at VFL level, but he'd come into the AFL side and be dropped after one or two games.

"All of a sudden, he grabs a couple of marks and maybe kicks a goal and it's as though your mind starts to believe you're good enough to do it."

SAM WEIDEMAN'S PROGRESSION

For Weideman, that breakout match came against West Coast in round 22.

The 17-game forward-ruck out-bodied Eagles defender Tom Cole to mark, then kick a first-quarter goal and had logged four contested marks by half-time.

Weideman followed up with 17 disposals, six marks and a goal a week later in another impressive display against Greater Western Sydney.

This was the player Melbourne's national recruiting manager, Jason Taylor, envisioned when he secured the athletic then-teenager at No.9 in the 2015 draft, although he repeatedly preached patience.

Weideman, like eventual Hawk Ryan Burton, underwent special medical testing pre-draft after battling an iron deficiency a year earlier then suffering a stress fracture in his right ankle.

That ankle has required three operations, most recently in the 2018 pre-season.

"I put in a pretty long batch of work in the VFL at a pretty consistent level, which I thought was pleasing and gave me a lot of confidence that I was actually ready to go," Weideman told AFL.com.au.

"I believed in myself and so did the other players. That was a great feeling.

"I felt ready (the other times), but I think a lot of my craft and decision-making at the higher level was a bit off and I don't think that part of my game was ready."

Weideman's early experiences contrasted greatly with two Blues taken one and three selections behind him, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow.

Curnow's career has long since taken off, while McKay became the figurehead of Carlton fans' frustration as the Blues struggled and the young spearhead wallowed in the VFL.

There was little of the same urgency and pressure associated with Weideman's progress behind Hogan and McDonald, who booted 95 goals between them in the home-and-away season.

The trio played five games in the same side this year and are hopeful it will become a regular combination in 2019, with McDonald already seeing the benefits of Weideman's 'crash and bash' style.

"It's a pretty cool thing having two of the best forwards in the competition to play with and learn off," Weideman said.

"They've got different strengths and I can take lots out of Tommy's game and Jesse's game and try and implement them into my footy, especially working with them and competing with them at training."

Weideman described as "bittersweet" learning Hogan had suffered a season-ending foot injury.

Homework for Sam Weideman in the Demons' pre-season. Picture: AFL Photos

Coach Simon Goodwin delivered him that news in a chat during which he also told him he was McDonald's new forward sidekick.

"I was shattered when 'Hoges' went down. He's a very special player for our group and we care for him a lot, so we don't want that to happen to any of our players," Weideman said.

"But I'm stoked to have the opportunity to play in a final – it's pretty cool – and the last two weeks I've been able to play my role, and I'm not taking it for granted, that's for sure."

Weideman, like most of the Demons, will play his first final at the MCG on Friday night against Geelong, continuing an uncanny family tradition.

The Cats were the same opponent for his grandfather, 1958 Collingwood premiership captain Murray, and father, Mark, who played 28 matches for the Magpies, in their maiden finals.

"My family's loving it and they've been an awesome support for me," Weideman said.

"I was with them a few days ago talking about finals and they recalled their first finals and how they went.

"It was a bit different in those days, but it's pretty cool to have that history in the family."

Sam Weideman lays a strong tackle on Tom Barrass. Picture: AFL Photos