Back-to-back: Richmond defeats Geelong to win the 2020 AFL Grand Final
When he took over as Richmond coach 11 years ago, Damien Hardwick said he wanted the club to play with the same traits Tom Hafey’s awe-inspiring Tigers did. Saturday’s premiership was the exclamation mark on the club’s modern dynasty.
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Ruthless, relentless, uncompromising.
Damien Hardwick publicly aspired for the modern Richmond to exude those attributes when he took over in late 2009.
That was more than 4000 days ago, when the Tigers were little more than the laughing stock of the AFL.
Fast forward 11 years – and now with a third premiership cup in its keeping from the past four seasons – Richmond is once again the envy of the footy world.
The ruthless, relentless and uncompromising standards Richmond has channelled through this 95-game four-season odyssey – for 71 wins, a draw and 23 losses- have mirrored the attributes of those magnificent yellow and black teams coached by club legend Tom Hafey in the late ‘60s and ’70s.
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Those three qualities were never more needed than in the first half on Saturday night.
Staring down the barrel of a Grand Final defeat when Tom Hawkins put Geelong 22 points in front at the 18-minute-mark of the second term, the Tigers looked uncharacteristically vulnerable.
To make matters worse, they were a man down after Nick Vlastuin was left concussed after being collected by Patrick Dangerfield’s forearm after only six minutes.
Then came the most remarkable lifeline from Dustin Martin, who almost single-handedly dragged the heavyweight Tigers off the canvas when they looked ready for a standing count.
In a moment of sheer genius, Martin created something out of nothing with a goal just before halftime that put life back into his team’s lungs.
It was the initial down payment on what would be a record third Norm Smith Medal for Martin on a night of so many historic firsts in the Gabba night Grand Final.
That was rubber stamped later as he booted a further three goals which saw him acknowledged as one of the greatest finals performers of all-time.
Martin’s third Norm Smith Medal has taken him into rarefied air, passing Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge who were two-time winners.
Given he is not 30 until June next year and still at the peak of his powers, you wouldn’t put it past him to make it four in the coming years.
By game’s end, the margin had blown out to 31 points – a 53-point turnaround from Hawkins’ goal.
The Tigers’ 13th VFL-AFL flag could arguably be their greatest triumph after a season of dislocation, distraction and difficulties during the global coronavirus pandemic that challenged them – and the game – like never before.
It was the most amazing of victories given they have spent more than 110 days on the road, played only four games at the MCG (and no finals), endured a handful of embarrassing off-field indiscretions, and yet still shaken off the challengers.
Hardwick made no secret of his ambitions from the moment he first walked into the Punt Rd doors – which had almost been a revolving door for Tiger coaches for years.
At the 2009 Jack Dyer Medal, weeks after becoming the new coach, Hardwick told the crowd: “I look back with envy at the (Tommy) Hafey era, the period between 1967 and ’74, and the four premierships that go with it – the most successful era of this club.
“Ruthless, relentless and, most importantly, uncompromising. These are the words used to describe those great teams.“
The Tigers officially have a new dynasty now.
Hardwick passed Hafey this year for the most games from a Richmond coach. Now he is only one flag away from equalling the four premierships of Hafey – the Tigers’ greatest ever coach – and no one would put it past this yellow and black juggernaut winning another one in his tenure.
There was history everywhere you looked at the Gabba last night.
Trent Cotchin – who grew up as a Geelong supporter – is now the only Tiger to have captained the club to three flags in the VFL-AFL era.
That puts ahead of two-time flag winning coaches Dan Minogue, Percy Bentley and Royce Hart, with the chance of more to come too.
Can it just be four years since Cotchin’s leadership was under the fiercest of scrutiny during a tumultuous 2016?
“I’m so proud it has been an incredible year,” Cotchin said on Saturday night. ”Credit to our boys they just continue to show resilience … not just our boys on the field those who have come onto the field have probably had a more challenging year with there being no second-tier games.
“I know we’ve spoken a lot about the journey and it should be celebrated
“It has been one hell of an adventure and to finish off with this is simply outstanding.”
Shane Edwards spent much of the 2020 season back in Melbourne along with teammate Bachar Houli awaiting the birth of their respective children before returning to the hub when it mattered most.
Both are now three-time premiership Tigers, along with a host of teammates.
“I can’t believe this, I definitely didn’t think it would end like this,” Edwards said. ”You could make a few movies about this I reckon, well done to the AFL and well done by Geelong … that’s the hardest game I’ve played in.”
This group has already provided Richmond with premiership cups No. 11 (2017) and No. 12 (2019), which are under lock and key in the foyer of the club‘s Punt Rd home base.
Now this well-travelled 13th premiership cup will find a home forever in the vacant slot at Tigers’ headquarters – a reminder of what was sacrificed by this team to be the best in 2020.
Richmond‘s 2020 victory means it has now bypassed Melbourne on the VFL-AFL premiership ladder, and has joined modern powerhouse Hawthorn on 13.
Only Essendon and Carlton (both 16) and Collingwood (15) have won more flags.
But those three AFL powerhouse clubs would be getting nervous that the Tigers might not have finished yet.
RICHMOND CHIEF’S BOLD PREDICTION COMES TO FRUITION
– Sam Landsberger
Somebody should ask Brendon Gale for the Powerball numbers.
GET YOUR 24-PAGE WRAP SOUVENIR EDITION OF THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN
It was pandemic pandemonium for the Tigers on Saturday night as they officially joined this century’s platinum club.
RECAP: EVERY MOMENT OF THE 2020 AFL GRAND FINAL
Born in 1885, the Tigers have won three flags in four seasons for the first time in history.
And this was the best yet. Line up the Grand Finals – Adelaide at the MCG, GWS at the MCG or Geelong at the Gabba?
Richmond has achieved what the Geelong couldn’t in its 2007-11 golden run – go back-to-back.
The new Tigers are better than the oldest, and perhaps Dustin Martin is the greatest of them all.
No. 4 has Norm Smith Medal No. 3, an achievement unrivalled.
In a Grand Final swing for the ages, it was Martin who sparked, and then stamped, a 44-point turnaround with another four Grand Final majors.
Reporter @SamLandsberger is on his way to the Gabba. This is what the drive looks like 😲 #AFLGF https://t.co/TvLCmOWIlt pic.twitter.com/Wk8r4q3t9S
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) October 24, 2020
WET AND THEN WILD
In Queensland life returned to normal a long time ago, and the mask is still a Jim Carey flick rather than a compulsory accessory.
But inside the Gabba, nothing was normal.
After weeks of glorious warmth, Richmond somehow transported Melbourne’s wintry weather into the Sunshine State.
Outside the gates opportunistic locals flogged $6 ponchos as the premiership cup arrived on a surfboard after a tsunami’s worth of rain lashed Brisbane.
Then, it turned from wet to wild. Patrick Dangerfield’s arm was splattered with Nick Vlastuin’s blood after he KO’d the Tiger.
At the same time, Gary Ablett’s left shoulder popped out of its socket, and a dose of excitement popped out of the game.
The game was halted for seven minutes as Vlastuin lay motionless on the field, and was eventually stretchered off.
It was only the beginning of a dramatic storyline writers of The Bold and The Beautiful would be envious of.
Ablett was jabbed, strapped and returned in a resurrection some Richmond diehards probably smiled at.
Two wannabe comedians then decided to join the play and ran on to the Gabba, although the joke was on them as they lost a lot more fans than they won.
They were pinned to the ground by security as play was, again, stopped in a “shortened” quarter that ran for 34 minutes.
The odd moments kept on rolling.
In the third quarter the scoreboard was wrong, a Jason Castagna behind missed by the men upstairs.
FORWARD FALTER
Somehow, the two idiot streakers who should never be allowed back at the footy got closer to the ball than Jack Riewoldt early, who had one kick in the first half … a clanger.
Riewoldt’s best performance after the sun has set at a Grand Final remains with a microphone instead of a Sherrin
Jack’s best effort after the sun has set at a Grand Final remains with a microphone instead of a Sherrin, with his Mr Brightside cameo in 2017.
Tom Lynch, too, was beaten. Lynch dropped chest marks he would usually take in his sleep and when he finally gobbled one, he kicked it straight to Rhys Stanley.
But Lynch and Riewoldt ran to the finish line and it was Jack who jammed home the sealer.
Broadly, it was a tough night for forwards, and a forgettable one for Gary Rohan (five disposals).
GAZZA MAGIC
Ablett has dimmed from the main man to a moments man, and, boy did he have some moments.
Two blink-and-you-miss-it handballs unleashed the Cats into space and set up goals for Tom Hawkins and Gryan Miers.
They were deft and delicate and, unfortunately, succeeded by more disaster as Ablett’s shoulder looked as loose as Stewart.
The great man finished his career on the bench in a heartbreaking Grand Final.
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CATS CAN’T SCORE … AGAIN
Last week the Cats kicked 2.5 from long-range set-shots, and coach Chris Scott wondered how they would score against Richmond.
On Saturday night, their five first-half goals all came from set-shots from beyond 40m.
In order Cameron Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Menegola and Tom Hawkins crushed their kicks.
In a game that was billed as control versus chaos it was fitting Geelong threaded five set-shots on the hop as Richmond went scoreless.
The Cats won 15 of the first 17 inside 50s in a second quarter onslaught that stopped Richmond in its tracks.
Fluency was replaced by fury when Richmond tried to move the ball.
The Tigers had 16 chains starting in defensive 50m in the first half, and none generated an inside 50m.
There were links missing.
But Scott’s concerns were proven valid as the Cats managed just two goals outside that burst, and no easy majors for the night.
Does anyone have the recipe for that special kebab sauce?
BACHAR’S BAD LEG
Bachar Houli revealed he tore his calf early in the first term but, with Vlastuin already down, he had to fight through the injury.
Houli, who is still without a contract for next season, feared his night was over when he felt his calf tear in the first term, but fought on for 11 possessions from 98 minutes on the field.
“I actually did my calf about two minutes after Nick Vlastuin got knocked out so I thought I was done,” Houli said on Triple M.
“But the great man ‘Dimma’ (coach Damien Hardwick) said I need you for this, I need you to battle on.
“I’m so proud to see the boys put in an effort.”
Houli said the calf “was a little bit tight pre-match” but he “didn’t think much of it”.
“I sprinted across the ground and it popped, but I thought that was done,” he said.
“I knew there was no next week and I wanted to give it all I got.”
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 2.1 3.2 7.4 12.9 (81)
def
GEELONG 2.2 5.5 6.8 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Tigers: Martin 4, Prestia 2, Riewoldt 2, Castagna, Lambert, Lynch, McIntosh
Cats: Menegola 2, Dangerfield, Duncan, Guthrie, Hawkins, Miers
SAM LANDSBERGER’S BEST
Tigers: Martin, Edwards, Short, Nankervis, Bolton, Graham, Lambert, Prestia, Baker, Grimes, Broad
Cats: Duncan, Menegola, Guthrie, Stewart, Selwood, Miers, Stanley, Henderson
SAM LANDSBERGER’S VOTES
3 — DUSTIN MARTIN
Does anybody know a statue maker? Martin’s place in history is going to be so special it might need end up not just at Punt Rd, but at the MCG. Bright lights suit this megastar who has changed the face of Richmond. Which goal was the greatest? Was it the one where Jake Kolodashnij was in his grill and Martin was getting pushed off balance and he still curled it through? Or the monster from 60m? Or the last one when he intercepted a handball and snapped from so deep in the pocket he could’ve reached for his first celebratory beer? It is a debate that would rival the Biden-Trump stoushes.
2 — SHANE EDWARDS
Edwards is a watch-the-replay-to-really-appreciate-him kind of player although to the naked eye this was a marvellous performance. Edwards makes other players shine brighter and his inside grunt started so much of Richmond’s midfield punch.
1 — JAYDEN SHORT
The little Tiger ran and ran and ran some more, carrying the footy 771m when none of the other 43 players managed to make it further than 625m. Short wasn’t in the best 22 three years ago and now the little man is a major part of Richmond’s backline bounce.
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Originally published as Back-to-back: Richmond defeats Geelong to win the 2020 AFL Grand Final