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AFL Grand Final 2019: Richmond Tigers vs GWS Giants

Richmond has inflicted an historic defeat on GWS that's smashed a number of footy records - none of them were as painful as one star's repeat nightmare.

2 min read
September 28, 2019 - 9:53AM
Marlion Pickett kicks goal on debut in AFL grand final (Channel 7)

Richmond are premiers for the second time in three years after outclassing GWS in the biggest game of the season.

The Tigers left GWS shell-shocked after a historic first half "pounding" that's set 59-year records.

The Tigers led by 35-points at the main break and went on to put the AFL's youngest club to the sword.

GWS was restricted to just 25-points, the second lowest grand final score in the last 92 years.

It was also the third biggest winning margin in grand final history. 

GWS' measly 1.6 (12) half time score was also the equal lowest score the grand final has seen since 1960.

The Giants' 12-point half equalled Fremantle's hammering at the hands of Hawthorn in the 2013 decider for the most miserable half-time scoreline a team has produced.

Incredibly, Fremantle's Matt de Boer was in both teams.

The 2013 Dockers and 2019 Giants are only bested by Collingwoods' 1.0 (6) half time score against Melbourne in 1960 as the lowest half time score in a grand final since World War 2.

The Tigers ended up doing it easy in the end - 17.12 (114) to 3.7 (25) - breaking the hearts of the Giants, who failed to fire a shot after riding such a wave of emotion through the finals series.

But the day didn't belong to the Giants and their tears. It belonged to the Tigers and their tears of joy.

The Tigers confirmed their new dynasty, crushing GWS by 89 points in the most-lopsided AFL grand final in 12 years.

It is Richmond’s 12th flag, drawing them level with Melbourne in equal-fifth place.

It is the biggest grand final thrashing since Geelong’s record 119-point win in 2007 over Port Adelaide.

Dustin Martin shone with four goals and won his second Norm Smith Medal as best afield.

Marlion Pickett, the story of the past two days since his debut was announced, also starred on the game’s biggest stage.

The 27-year-old father of four, who did jail time as a teenager and was recruited four months ago, impressed as he became only the sixth player in AFL history to debut in a grand final.

Saturday’s win was Richmond’s 12th in a row for the season and capped their resounding finish to the campaign.

It has been a year full of adversity, with star defender Alex Rance missing since round one because of a knee reconstruction and several other injuries to key players.

After teetering at the mid-season bye on a 7-6 record, Richmond have not missed a beat since.

By contrast, two bruising finals wins over Brisbane and Collingwood took their toll on GWS and Saturday was a bridge too far.

The Giants’ first grand final was in trouble even before the game started in front of 100,014 fans.

Co-captain Phil Davis was put through a fitness test an hour before the first bounce because of his sore calf.

GWS took the punt on playing him and it backfired horribly, with the key defender clearly proppy after he was hurt in last week’s nailbiting preliminary- final win over Collingwood.

Davis’ opponent Jack Riewoldt repeatedly had the jump on him leading for the ball and kicked five goals.

Controversial star Toby Greene also had a dirty day in his return from suspension and had minimal influence.

Here's how the Tigers' historic thumping played out.

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Dusty crowned Norm Smith king

Richmond's Dustin Martin has pipped fairytale hero Marlion Pickett to win his second North Smith Medal.

Martin was too much for the Giants' defence to handle and he ran rampant as the Tigers broke the spirit of GWS in the middle quarters.

The Tigers had a small army of stars push their case to win the medal with Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt also starring up forward in front of 100,014 spectators at the MCG.

Martin screamed "Yellow and black" into the microphone during his victory speech, but was otherwise fairly calm.

"I would just like to thank the AFL and the major partners," he said.

"Thanks to the fans for coming out. Thanks GWS."

Richmond's 'simply breath-taking' premiership

Richmond are premiers for the second time in three years after they destroyed GWS Giants by 89 points in a grand final bloodbath.

The Tigers booted 17 of the last 19 goals to outclass GWS and wrap up the premiership by half time.

Debutant sticks dagger in GWS

Marlion Pickett's fairytale story got the cherry on top when he kicked the goal that took the Tigers out to a ten-goal lead in the third quarter.

Picked up by the Tigers during the mid-season rookie draft, Pickett was only called up to play in the grand final after he was best-on-ground in the Tigers' VFL grand final win last week.

The 27-year-old also spent time in jail as a teenage over a series of burglary offences.

He has turned his life around and is now certain to go into footy folklore as a fairytale story.

His goal, which came after Dustin Martin unselfishly dished off inside fifty, cemented Pickett's rise as one of the game's most dramatic stories.

"If he kicks this, this will be one of the great roars in grand final history," Brian Taylor said in commentary as Pickett lined up for goal.

"Forget about the scores, that don't matter. A debutant about to put the dagger in the heart on grand final day.

"Listen to the roar."

The Tigers led 12.9 (81) to 2.7 (19) at three-quarter time.

The Giant's score was the lowest by a team in an AFL grand final since Collingwood in 1960.

'Headaches galore' for GWS

Any chance of a GWS fightback appeared to evaporate early in the third term with Tom Lynch kicking the first goal of the second half.

The fight appeared to drain out of the Giants just two minutes later when Daustin Martin booted his third goal and the Tigers' lead was out to 48-points.

There were fears the battle could turn into a bloodbath with the Tigers running all over the battered Giants

"Headaches galore for Leon Cameron," Cameron Ling said on Channel 7.

Staggering history in Tigers 'slaughter'

Jack Riewoldt's three-goal heroics in the second quarter have put GWS to the sword.

The Tigers' 7.5 (47) to 1.6 (12) lead has equalled a 59-year milestone as the lowest half time score ever seen in the AFL Grand Final.

The Giants' 12-point half equalled Fremantle's hammering at the hands of Hawthorn in the 2013 decider for the most miserable half-time scoreline a team has produced.

Incredibly, Fremantle's Matt de Boer was in both teams.

The 2013 Dockers and 2019 Giants are only bested by Collingwoods' 1.0 (6) half time score against Melbourne in 1960 as the lowest half time score in a grand final since World War 2.

'Tigers are all over them'

Richmond made it seven straight goals when Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt booted majors during the second term.

Martin's second goal was "the play of the game" according to Seven's Brian Taylor.

"I've never seen anything like it," Taylor said as the MCG erupted.

Martin cleverly stayed near goals and didn't rush up to a contest when his immediate defender did. When the ball fell out the back, Martin was able to turn and snap towards the open goals.

In the blink of an eye, the Giants had gone from five-points clear to a deficit of 29-points.

Bruce McAvaney said: "The Tigers are all over them".

The Tigers continued to put the Giants to the sword right up until the half time siren with Jack Riewoldt booting his third goal.

That appeared to demoralise the Giants, who were watching their dream turn into a nightmare on the game's biggest stage.

It was the Tigers by 35 at the main break – 7.5 (47) to 1.6 (12).

Giants pest does it again

Giants niggler Toby Greene has been accused of attacking the eyes of another rival during a heated opening quarter.

After Tigers captain Trent Cotchin also appeared to give Shane Mumford a face massage, Channel 7 cameras spotted Greene attacking the face of Tiger Liam Baker.

Greene was famously suspended from the preliminary final for appearing to rake the face of Brisbane star Lachie Neale.

The Seven video showed Greene wrapping his hand around the fave of Baker.

Commentator Brian Taylor said: " Oh no, that was another little face massage, I reckon".

Tigers kick two big, late goals

It took more than 20 minutes, but Giants star Jeremy Cameron finally stood tall and slotted a set-shot to give GWS a dream start.

Cameron's set-shot from more than 55m just sailed over the line.

It put the Giants ahea 1.2 (8) to 0.3 (3) late in the first term.

However, the Tigers hit back with two goals in the last three minutes to lead at the first break.

Goals to Dustin Martin and Daniel Rioli pushed the Tigers to a 2.3 (15) to 1.2 (8) quarter-time lead.

Richmond star's brutal start

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin gave away an early free kick for an ugly face massage on Giants ruckman Shane Mumford.

Cotchin slung Mumford to the ground in a thumping tackle, but then "went after" Mumford's face as they wrestled on the ground.

Seven's Cameron Ling said Cotchin's attack sent a message to his team and also suggested the Tigers had planned before the game to attack Mumford.

"He gave him a bit of a face massage," Ling said.

"They went after him on the ground as soon as soon as they knew it was Mumford."

Garry Lyon told SEN: "That is a statement from Cotchin. Took on the big man and stopped him in his tracks."

Giants brutally booed

GWS were the first team onto the MCG where they were brutally heckled by the heavily pro-Richmond crowd.

The Giants' banner claimed the team had "won the right to lift the holy grail".

There were loud boos across the stadium as they presented it for the first time.

The Tigers received a much friendlier reception when Trent Cotchin led his team out.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-grand-final-2019-richmond-tigers-vs-gws-giants/live-coverage/73dde41a506fbb659903526357a9add0