Opinion
Richmond won their third premiership in four years with an excellent 31-point win over Geelong.
It was a comprehensive performance by the Tigers, especially in the second half, but who stood out as the very best?
Nathan Broad: 6/10
Didn’t show up much on the stat sheet but he didn’t need to. Was part of a resolute Richmond back six that virtually nullified Geelong’s forwards, especially in the second half. Did well in Vlastuin’s absence though and recovered from a first-half head knock to play out the game.
Dylan Grimes: 4
Got brought up the ground by Gary Rohan and wasn’t able to have the defensive impact he’s used to having. Three of his four disposals came from intercept possessions, but he didn’t do a whole lot.
Noah Balta: 8
Had the big job on Tom Hawkins and did it well. Had plenty of help from his teammates, but ultimately held Tom Hawkins to ten disposals – only three of which were kicks – three marks and one goal. Had 12 disposals and six intercept possessions himself.
Liam Baker: 8
Only the 14 disposals, but he had plenty of impact with seven intercept possessions and five score involvements and was fifth in the side for metres gained despite not accumulating much of the ball. Delivered the kick to Jack Riewoldt for the set shot that ultimately sealed the game. Living proof that stats aren’t everything.
Nick Vlastuin: N/A
Was badly concussed in the third minute of the game and played no further part.
Bachar Houli: 5
Normally a grand final specialist, Houli wasn’t really able to get into a rhythm tonight and didn’t look as calm or clean with the ball as normal. His 11 disposals went at 91 per cent effectiveness but gained only 64 metres. Kept very quiet.
Kamdyn McIntosh: 6
Another Richmond player who just did their job, albeit unspectacularly. Kicked a ripping goal on the run in the first quarter, but had just 13 disposals for the match and didn’t use the ball particularly well. Did gain 261 metres, however, which is a good return.
Dion Prestia: 8
Kicked the first goal of the game and then added a second at the beginning of the fourth quarter – both obviously crucial. Only 14 disposals, but had five tackles, four clearances and three score involvements. Every time he got his hands on the ball was important.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Marlion Pickett: 7
The sequel wasn’t quite as good as the original for Pickett, but he still played his role. Laid five tackles to go with his 14 disposals and seemed to be in the right place at the right time a lot, especially when Richmond were trying to defend.
Kane Lambert: 7
Yet again, did what was asked of him to a high standard. Kicked an important goal midway through the third quarter, the centrepiece of a night that saw him finish with 13 disposals and five score involvements. A testament to Richmond’s success is the number of second-tier players who don’t need to shine and Lambert is a perfect example.
Jason Castagna: 8
Was instrumental in helping the Tigers keep the ball pinned in Geelong’s defensive 50 for large stretches of the game. Put the Tigers within a kick early in the third quarter with a great goal to go with four score involvements and a team-high two tackles inside 50.
Dustin Martin: 10
One of the all-time great grand final performances – this time there can be no doubt he was the Norm Smith Medallist. Racked up 21 disposals, four goals – the first three of them absolutely pivotal – four clearances, five inside 50s and a match-high nine score involvements. Absolutely lights out and rightfully etches his name in the history books.
Dustin Martin. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Tom Lynch: 2
Had an absolute mare in all honesty. Looked nowhere near it for most of the evening, finishing with just one goal – a set shot from point-blank courtesy of a defensive miscue by Geelong – eight disposals and no contested marks. Earned his medal with his work in the home-and-away season, but won’t be rushing to watch the replay of his performance this evening.
Jack Riewoldt: 7
Had his best game of the finals by far, kicking two goals and having six score involvements – equal-second on the team. It couldn’t hold a candle to his superb performance in last year’s decider, but he did enough to keep the scoreboard ticking and earned his medal.
Shai Bolton: 8
Was as damaging as always by foot, racking up 381 metres despite only kicking it by 11 times. Collected four clearances and racked up seven tackles in an efficient performance.
Toby Nankervis: 7
Probably earned a draw in the ruck contest with Rhys Stanley. Narrowly lost the hitout count 29-25, but his work around the ground was excellent. Was hard at it at the contest as normal with six tackles and four clearances – an excellent return for a ruckman, but didn’t win as much of the ball as he’d have liked.
Shane Edwards: 10
One of the most underrated players in the competition and he put together another masterpiece this evening. Collected game-highs in disposals with 27 and clearances with nine, while his 389 metres gained were third on the team. Continues to deliver time and again for the Tigers and was instrumental once again.
Trent Cotchin: 8
Did a lot of the hard yards at the coalface, with his six clearances second for the team. Fell just short of the 20-disposal barrier, but worked incredibly hard and often won the ball at crucial junctures. The first triple-premiership captain in club history and he definitely earned the honour this evening.
David Astbury: 5
Ultimately didn’t need to do a lot. Hawkins was well-held by Noah Balta, while the rest of the Geelong forwards really failed to fire. Just the seven disposals, but five of them came from intercept possessions.
Jayden Short: 10
Dustin Martin was always going to win the Norm Smith, but Jayden Short finished second been in the voting. Amassed 25 disposals, six tackles, seven inside 50s, six score involvements, eight intercept possessions and a whopping 771 metres gained – easily a match-high. Excellent performance by another underrated Tiger.
Daniel Rioli: 3
Just the six disposals for Rioli tonight and, while he continued to try with four tackles, never looked like troubling the scoreboard in a somewhat disappointing performance.
Jack Graham: 8
Like so many of his fellow supporting actors, did his job to perfection and didn’t need to excel thanks to the efforts of Martin, Short and Edwards. A handy 17 touches, but gets an extra point for his equal team-high ten contested possessions, to go with six score involvements and five intercept possessions – a great day at the office.
Written by Daniel Jeffrey and Stirling Coates
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