| Final Score | ||
|---|---|---|
| Richmond Tigers | vs | GWS Giants |
| 17.12.114 | 3.7.25 | |
A five-goal to zero blitz in the second quarter has proved the difference-maker in a very lop-sided grand final, as Richmond scored their second premiership in three seasons with a dominant 89-point win over the GWS Giants.
More from the AFL Grand Final
» Match Report: Riewoldt, Martin propel Tigers to premiership
» Five talking points
» Richmond Tigers player ratings
» GWS Giants player ratings
WATCH: Video highlights
Final score
Ricmond Tigers 17.12.114
GWS Giants 3.7.25
The last weekend in September is here, one final game to decide the 2019 premiers. Will it be the Richmond Tigers for their second premiership in three years or the GWS Giants in their maiden AFL grand final? Join The Roar for live coverage, with scores and a blog of the match from 2:30pm AEST.
In preliminary final action last weekend, the Tigers got off to a slow start against Geelong, but came home strong for a 19-point win.
Tom Lynch kicked five goals, Dion Prestia collected 28 disposals and two goals, while the Tigers’ defence held Geelong to just two goals in the second-half.
Their opponent for this year’s grand final was decided on a wet Saturday afternoon at the MCG, where GWS held on as Collingwood made one almighty final term come back.
Underdog for the third time this finals series, the Giants went about their business in the third term and stretched out to a five-goal point lead. This was reduced to just four points, but GWS remained calm and fought hard to qualify for its maiden grand final.
Both teams have proven to be third-quarter specialists in recent weeks, who will take the honours in the ultimate ‘premiership quarter’?
An exciting call was made by Richmond at selection.
Unfortunately, on Tuesday, Jack Graham’s shoulder dislocation from Friday night’s preliminary final was deemed too unstable for recovery.
In one of the stories of the season, 27-year-old mid-season draftee Marlion Pickett will debut for the Tigers in the grand final.
Pickett was best afield in last weekend’s VFL grand final and Richmond are confident he will perform well on the biggest stage.
There are always hard-luck stories in grand final week, so spare a thought for two Tigers – Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh – who were withdrawn from the VFL team last Sunday.
Seemingly left out in case Graham or Nathan Broad (concussion) were not available, neither will get the chance to play for a premiership medal at either level.
In Sydney, there has been speculation all week as to the fitness of key Giants Lachie Whitfield, Phil Davis and Stephen Coniglio.
Coniglio ruled himself out on Wednesday, while Whitfield has been named in the side following keyhole surgery on his appendix just 10 days ago.
Toby Greene returns from suspension and will provide extra spark in this Giants’ line-up.
The pair who replaced Whitfield and Greene last week have been omitted, Ian Hill and Lachlan Keeffe are named as emergencies.
The last time these two teams met was in Round 17. At this point the Tigers were hitting their straps, while the Giants were without some of their best and lost Stephen Coniglio to his knee injury.
Richmond were too strong, defeating the Giants by 27 points at the MCG, however it could and should have been more with Richmond kicking 16 behinds.
The weather is looking fairly overcast for grand final day; not a warm September by any means, but no rain is expected.
Prediction
The dry conditions will suit the Tigers, who are on a roll and hard to beat anywhere, let alone at their home, the MCG.
The big, big sound coming from the west of Sydney won’t be overwhelmed by the situation, however might have already played their ‘grand final’ so-to-speak, after three huge finals and a bit of travel.
Tigers by 16 points and Dion Prestia to be awarded the Norm Smith medal.
Venue: MCG, Melbourne
Time: 2:30pm AEST
TV: Channel 7
Online: AFL app
Betting: Richmond $1.05, GWS $3.05
2019 meetings: Round 3, GWS won by 49 points and round 17 Richmond won by 27 points.
Richmond Tigers
FB: David Astbury, Nathan Broad, Dylan Grimes
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short
C: Brandon Ellis, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy
HF: Daniel Rioli, Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert
FF: Jason Castagna, Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt
Foll: Toby Nankervis, Shane Edwards, Dustin Martin
I/C: Ivan Soldo, Liam Baker, Marlion Pickett, Shai Bolton
GWS Giants
FB: Nick Haynes, Phil Davis, Aidan Corr
HB: Adam Kennedy, Sam Taylor, Heath Shaw
C: Zac Williams, Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Sam Reid, Jeremy Cameron, Harry Perryman
FF: Harry Himmelberg, Jeremy Finlayson, Brent Daniels
Foll: Shane Mumford, Tim Taranto, Matt de Boer
I/C: Jacob Hopper, Daniel Lloyd, Toby Greene, Adam Tomlinson
Alex
Guest
6x6 needs to let his pure hatred of the RFC go. The thread below like most for the past month are filled with him taking shots at the tigers. Not a single positive thing to say about the premiers or any of their players gives you a fair indication of how ‘unbias’ his comments really are. As for the best side over the past 3 years, let me spell it out for you real simple like. 2017 - tigers premiers, 2018 - eagles premiers, 2019 - tigers premiers. So unless there were additional seasons played in those 3 years that I’m unaware of that would mean richmond won 2/3 premierships over that span. With no other team besting that, pretty sure that makes them the best over that period. I really haven’t seen any poster compare them to the hawks and lions 3-peat sides apart from you. As for talks of a dynasty that will all be decided in the future but don’t think the tiger fans care at this point. Pretty good for an ‘ok’ team :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Have watched 2014 about 30 times having missed it travelling OS Perfection. 2012 never happened :shocked: :crying:
Birdman
Roar Rookie
sven, I appreciate the sentiment re: the Hawks. Yes the Giants badly let themselves down yesterday but the issue of sniping really only relates to one player in Toby Greene and shouldn't dismiss how good their finals campaign was up until 2.30pm yesterday afternoon.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
Wow, well done tigers, but kind of embarrassing for the AFL to have such a one sided game. Japan vs Ireland in the RWC was such a great spectacle... Well done tigers ...
sven
Roar Rookie
birdman i hated hawthorn during your period of dominance but totally respected them as a team, to compare gws' cheap sniping acts with the hardness of hawthorns 'unsociable football' back in their period of dominance is a joke. the tiges showed them faux 'hard men' of gws what hardness at the ball is
sven
Roar Rookie
get on the tiges mate, the team we have atm plays with heart n soul
anon
Roar Pro
No team has been better since 2017.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
I mute the TV refuse to listen to McAvaney, Zemplis or Taylor.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Nah soft, dropping for frees is soft. If I believed what I read then Freo are going to get Kelly, we both know that isn't true lol you might try watching the game and coming to one's own conclusions instead of whatever lingy said :D
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
It does suck when you realise that the majority of your best players are passed or passing there peak and the margin for error regarding a dynasty is extremely little but you'll be fine accepting this as I've done many times with my team wce since they joined the vfl, Richmond list is no different from any side considering themselves a premiership Chance atm it is the nature of the AFL draft equalisation policy, easy as to get one's head around it mate, it's just the system that is in place thru the draft and the salary cap.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
nah, that's me done have a good summer!
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Facts Wally, never proven wrong and unfortunately your lack of knowledge is something I cannot respect no matter how much like frenchy from grease you want to be. Richmond are the best side of 17 and 19 hero but alas not 18 unless like hawthorn, Brisbane and Adelaide they have won 2 or more in a row amazingly they aren't close to any of the great AFL sides, this might baffle yourself and your other accounts but it is pretty obvious to those amongst us who choose to think.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Talking about soft......The softest effort of the year was the Eagles effort against Hawthorn at Optus.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Just be happy I respond, won’t find many others.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
George Romero would shudder in shame that you use his masterpiece as inspiration, so would ken foree foR that matter, luckily you didn't use a sid Haig film as name inspiration as insulting the recently departed is bad form ...pity the bleeding obvious is beyond your comprehension, night classes may help.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Maybe you should not believe what you read....Try watching clearly not soft today ! I thought GWS were soft today.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
so none of the guys i mentioned are in our best players? for someone who is wrong so so often, you should be better at it
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
stupid question. of course I am gloating. you remember what it's like. you will feel it again soon, I am sure
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Shirt fits when you've got multiple divers in your side, Rance, Grimes and Riewoldt and players like dusty and Baker flopping like impotency, that equals a soft as side, no accusations there just calling out what I read.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
C'mon 6x6 you accusing some one of ridiculous statements...........You hold that title easily, especially calling Richmond and Riewoldt Soft !