Richmond senior coach Damien Hardwick had an early hunch Marlion Pickett would turn on a Grand Final blinder

Marlion Pickett’s spectacular VFL grand final convinced Richmond coach Damien Hardwick he was ready for the biggest stage earlier than we were led to believe.

Marlion Pickett’s magnet went up on Damien Hardwick’s Grand Final team board as early as last Monday, paving way for one of footy’s most remarkable debuts.

The electric utility dazzled on the AFL’s biggest stage in the Tigers’ 89-point premiership rout, only six days after he was best-on-ground in the VFL Grand Final.

Tigers’ VFL coach and assistant coach of the year Craig McRae said the performances were a sign of things to come for Pickett next year, after he completes his first AFL pre-season.

McRae said Hardwick flagged last Monday that Pickett was going to be the man to replace injured tough nut Jack Graham against Greater Western Sydney.

“‘Dimma’ said on the Monday, after the VFL Grand Final, that ‘Maybe I’m leaning towards Marlion’,” McRae said.

“And his magnet came up on the (team) board, which it probably wasn’t previously.

“It was still line-ball, and I don’t think they officially made the decision until Thursday, so it came down to the last call, but it was pretty unanimous.

“It just always sort of felt like he was going to step up to the level because that is what he has always done.

“And now he is a one-game life member of the Richmond Football Club.”

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Marlion Pickett enjoys a premiership win in his first game.

Pickett, 27, had 22 disposals and provided two of the most breathtaking moments of the premiership decider on Saturday.

There was the magical blind turn around Lachie Whitfield in the second term and then the spine-tingling set shot which handed the mid-season pick-up his first AFL goal.

McRae said the pass from Dustin Martin across the face of goal that found Pickett unmarked was typically selfless.

“When Dustin came to the bench just after that I said to him, ‘Geez you are a good man looking after him’, and it just brought the house down, didn’t it,” McRae said.

McRae, who helped Pickett flourish in his six VFL appearances this season, said the club was excited for what the mature-age sensation could produce next season.

“(List manager) Blair Hartley and the recruiters communicated that from day one — they said whatever he does now is just a bonus,” McRae said.

“A lot of things still have to fall in to place, but with the pre-season and the information about the game style (that he will benefit from over summer) the eye was really always on 2020 with him.”

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Pickett said after the game he felt settled on Saturday “as soon as I ran on” to the MCG.

Coach Hardwick said the 27-year-old’s composure held him in good stead to perform, even though Pickett hardly reacted when he was first told he was playing.

“It was funny, I thought he would be a little bit more excited than he was, but obviously with the way he handled the occasion on Grand Final day, not much fazes Marlion,” Hardwick said.

“It has been an incredible journey and looking back in hindsight, it was a really good decision by our match committee.

“His debut on the big stage was scintillating, really.”

Originally published as Richmond senior coach Damien Hardwick had an early hunch Marlion Pickett would turn on a Grand Final blinder