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Redemption arrives for the Richmond Tigers as GWS suffer a Giant meltdown in the grand final

Roar Guru
28th September, 2019
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Roar Guru
28th September, 2019
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If you thought Richmond’s 2017 premiership was satisfying, then their 2019 flag must rank as the most satisfying yet.

The Tigers cemented themselves as arguably the most consistent team of the past three years after inflicting a Giant defeat (pun intended) on Greater Western Sydney to claim its second flag in that period and its 12th premiership overall.

Going into the final match of the season, all the talk was about whether the Giants, a regular target of criticism and ridicule ever since they entered the AFL in 2012, could finally land a maiden premiership with a talented playing list at its disposal.

Like the Western Bulldogs in 2016, they had to win three consecutive sudden-death finals to qualify for the big dance, reversing a heavy loss to the Bulldogs in the elimination final before winning back-to-back heartstoppers against the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood on the road.

They were never meant to win those matches, especially against the Bulldogs, who’d beaten them by 61 points in Round 22. That came nine days after the Giants were frozen out of their match against Hawthorn, losing by 56 points in a match best known for being played in snowfall.

The fans made the trip to Melbourne in their droves, and happily adopted some fans who were not willing to support the Tigers in the grand final.

During the week, memes went viral on Twitter with the club’s theme song, penned by Harry Angus, being played over the top of clips from television shows such as The Simpsons and The Office.

But the big, big sound that will be heard in the coming days is that of the Richmond club song after one of the most brutal performances from any side in a grand final since, well, themselves just two years ago.

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After a tense opening quarter, in which neither side could kick a goal in the first twenty minutes, it was this year’s Coleman Medallist, Jeremy Cameron, who opened proceedings, landing the Giants’ first-ever goal in a grand final in the process.

However, goals to Dustin Martin and Daniel Rioli (on the quarter-time siren) saw the Tigers enter the quarter-time break seven points ahead – 2.3 (15) to 1.2 (8).

From there it would be a procession as the Tigers slammed on another fifteen goals to their opponents’ two (which both came after half-time) to romp to their second flag in three years and literally shrink the Giants down to size.

Leading the romp was Jack Riewoldt, who kicked five majors, while Martin and Tom Lynch, who departed the Gold Coast Suns nearly twelve months ago, chipped in with four and two respectively.

Tom Lynch

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Their collective scores were over triple of what the entire Giants’ side could manage (3.7 (25)); that in some way brutally highlighted the gulf between the Tigers and a side which only fielded three players who’d previously played in the big dance.

The Tigers were also out to ensure that what happened in Round 3, when Martin lost his cool while being tagged out of the match by Matt de Boer in their 49-point defeat, would not happen again.

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The 28-year-old would have the final laugh, claiming his second Norm Smith Medal and joining the likes of Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge in such illustrious company.

He now becomes the only man to ever win two premiership medallions, two Norm Smith Medals and one Brownlow Medal.

But the fairytale story was undoubtedly that of Marlion Pickett, who became the first player since Keith Bachelor in 1952 to make his V/AFL debut in the biggest match of the season.

The 27-year-old made his debut one to remember as he kicked a goal in the third quarter, with teammates mobbing him in the process. The loudest cheers were then reserved for him when he accepted his premiership medallion in the post-match.

And so, after just one game, he has now become the unlikeliest of life members of the Richmond Football Club, which awards life membership to players who win a premiership with them.

The 89-point margin marks the third-biggest in an AFL grand final and the largest since the Geelong Cats inflicted a record 119-point defeat on Port Adelaide in 2007. It is also the biggest margin by which Richmond has won a grand final by.

In comparison to the 2017 flag, which came following a poor season which nearly cost coach Damien Hardwick his job, this one came amid adversity when you consider the circumstances they had to face in the first half of the year.

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On the opening night of the season, what was supposed to be a celebration for Alex Rance, who was bringing up his 200th AFL game, turned to tragedy when he suffered a serious knee injury which would ultimately sideline him for the remainder of the year.

Alex Rance after tearing his ACL

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

After they defeated Carlton in Round 1, dismal defeats to Collingwood and the GWS Giants by 44 and 49 points respectively saw the side sit in 14th place on the ladder with a percentage of 79.9.

However, a seven-point win over Port Adelaide at the Oval, in which the Tigers were without captain Trent Cotchin, forward Jack Riewoldt (both injured) and suspended midfielder Dustin Martin, would provide a much-needed boost of confidence going forward.

Just as it seemed they were starting to get going again, a hat-trick of losses to North Melbourne, the Geelong Cats and Adelaide Crows then saw them enter their Round 14 bye in ninth place on the ladder with a 7-6 record and a percentage of 92.

Having been without Rance, Cotchin, Riewoldt and Toby Nankervis for large periods of the season, many experts were ready to write off the Tigers’ premiership chances for season 2019.

But they would not lose again for the rest of the year, racking up a club-record 12 consecutive victories, culminating in their 12th premiership to restore some greatness to the club.

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For the Giants, just to reach their first grand final considering the adversity they had to face in the second half of the season should be considered an achievement in itself.

They were all but written off as premiership contenders following a pair of humiliating defeats against Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, in which they failed to kick a goal after half-time in either match.

They also lost co-captain Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio to serious knee injuries three months apart (in Rounds 4 and 17 respectively), and despite the latter’s efforts in the week leading up to the big dance, made the heartbreaking decision to rule himself out.

In the end, they came up against a strong Richmond side which was out for redemption after being thrashed by Collingwood in the preliminary final last year and had only won its previous flag in 2017 after a 37-year wait between drinks.

But perhaps AFL fans should be thankful for the Pies’ win last year, which in retrospect prevented the Tigers from joining the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn as teams who were able to string together three straight flags in 2001-03 and 2013-15 respectively.

The Giants’ final score of 3.7 (25) will also go down as their lowest score in club history, and the lowest score by any side in a grand final in nearly 60 years (Collingwood managed just 2.2 (14) in the 1960 VFL grand final).

Leon Cameron

(AAP Image/Julian Smith)

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It will now remain to be seen how Leon Cameron’s side respond to their grand final humiliation – will it spur the club to go one better in 2020, or will they crash and burn like the Adelaide Crows did after 2017?

The Crows, of course, entered the 2017 decider against the Tigers as the hottest of favourites after being the best team of the regular season by a country mile, only to save their worst for last as they registered their lowest score for the season in the grand final.

They subsequently missed the finals in the ensuing two seasons, and their coach Don Pyke stepped down recently conceding he was part of the club’s problems post-2017.

Port Adelaide also suffered their own misfortune this century, missing the finals for five consecutive seasons after being humiliated by the Geelong Cats by a record 119 points in the 2007 grand final.

Thus, recent history suggests that the Giants could be in for a tough couple of years as the fallout continues from their heaviest defeat since late 2015.

But if coach Leon Cameron can somehow keep them in premiership contention next year, then a contract extension may beckon – something that was furthest from his mind as the Giants battled poor form and the subsequent criticism in the second half of this year.

Back to the Tigers now, and it’s expected they will unfurl their premiership flag in Round 1 next year, where it will be their turn to host Carlton in the annual season-opener.

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As far as the 2020 season is concerned, it’s been confirmed that the Shanghai match between St Kilda and Port Adelaide will be held on the Sunday in Round 11, which will be the weekend of May 29-31.

Thus, if you go back ten weeks, this means Round 1 next year will fall on the weekend of March 19-22.

Easter (April 12) falls in Round 4, and the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which requires the use of Giants Stadium, starts in the previous round (3).

This should allow the Giants to play a home game at their Sydney home base in Round 2 (albeit with reduced capacity) before they are forced on the road for the following six weeks, in which they will be expected to play two home games in Canberra.

That would potentially clear the decks for the Giants to host the grand final rematch in Sydney as early as Round 2, or even in Canberra, unless the AFL schedules it for the MCG, which would take place no earlier than Round 3.

2020 AFL season – what we (probably) know so far:

Round 1
Thursday, March 19.

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Richmond versus Carlton at the MCG.

Round 4
Thursday, April 9.

Brisbane Lions versus Collingwood at the Gabba – likely.

Monday, April 13.

Geelong Cats versus Hawthorn at the MCG.

Round 6
Friday, April 24.

Melbourne versus Richmond at the MCG.

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Marlion Pickett of the Tigers

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Saturday, April 25.

Essendon versus Collingwood at the MCG.

Round 11
Sunday, May 31.

St Kilda versus Port Adelaide at Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai.

Round 12
Monday, June 8.

Melbourne versus Collingwood at the MCG.

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Round 23
August 21-23.

Pre-finals bye
August 28-30.

Finals week one
September 3-5.

Finals week two
September 11 and 12.

Finals week three
September 18 and 19.

Grand final
Saturday, September 26 at the MCG.

To finish off, congratulations to the Richmond Football Club, premiers for the 12th time, and commiserations to the GWS Giants, who should not allow their grand final meltdown to tarnish what has otherwise been an impressive 2019 season.

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But the footy’s not over just yet – the NRL premiership is still to be decided and it will be the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders who will fight it out for rugby league’s holy grail next Sunday night.

Bring on 2020.

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