The tiny town of Birregurra at the foot of the Otway Ranges is only 30 minutes from Lorne on the Great Ocean Road . . . and light years from the MCG for one former local, Lachlan Henderson.

Henderson, Brisbane’s first-round national draftee (eighth overall) of 2007, and Carlton’s first-game centre half-forward as of March 2010, took to the hallowed Jolimont turf with a fair degree of trepidation last Thursday night, as this was his first hit-out on “The G”.

“I came out a bit overwhelmed actually, with 70,000 out there,” the former Brisbane footballer of 15 matches experience said afterwards.

“I’ve never played on ‘The G’ and I’d only played one of my 15 games in Melbourne . . . the crowd was more than double what I’m used to - 20,000-25,000 max - and I really enjoyed it.”

Members of the Henderson clan were on hand to see their boy beat the butterflies and return a solid showing in Carlton’s 56-point victory over Richmond - one of nine goalkickers for the Blues in a forward line sans “Fev”, and together with Brock McLean and Robert Warnock, a first-gamer in the dark Navy Blue strip.

Nine months shy of his 21st birthday, Henderson will doubtlessly be confronted with many more opportunities to rise to the occasion, at that famous place where premierships are won.

To see “Lachie” Henderson’s post-match interview, click here.