VFL Grand Final: Richmond star reported, Billy Myers gives the bird to Tiger fans

Richmond won a thrilling VFL Grand Final that went down to the dying seconds but two big stars are now in doubt for the AFL decider as a result.

Sydney Stack leaves the field injured during the VFL Grand Final.

Richmond won a thrilling VFL Grand Final 8.10 (58) to 7.13 (55) over Williamstown but it may have come at a big cost with two stars who could be considered for the AFL Grand Final now under clouds.

With both Jack Graham and Nathan Broad not finishing their preliminary final win against Geelong plenty of Richmond stars were in the frame for a call-up including Dan Butler.

Butler, who has played seven games this season and was emergency for the win against Geelong, didn’t help his chances of a recall when he was reported for striking in the second quarter against Williamstown.

And although the report was for what appeared to be a low impact punch to the stomach, a trip to the Tribunal is likely a distraction the Tigers won’t need in Grand Final week.

Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals on KAYO SPORTS. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >

Both Marlion Pickett and Sydney Stack were in the team for the VFL Grand Final and Pickett kicked Richmond’s first goal of the match in what was an impressive performance by the young star that saw him named Norm Goss Medallist for Best on Ground.

Dan Butler has been reported for striking.

However all three are reportedly long shots to make the AFL Grand Final side with Stack — who electrified the AFL in his debut season — in his first match back from ankle surgery, a huge fitness query.

Those fitness questions went up a notch late in the game as the star rookie left the ground hobbling, this time after sustaining an injury to his right ankle.

Stack played through the pain but the trademark run and athleticism from earlier in the season did not appear to be there.

Sydney Stack leaves the field injured during the VFL Grand Final.

Additionally Richmond seemed to tip their cap towards recalls for both Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh, who were late outs from the VFL decider.

While those Richmond players were pushing for AFL Grand Final spots the Williamstown boys were playing their hearts out in their finale.

And they nearly pulled off a massive upset over the star-studded Tigers lineup.

Twice in the dying stages Willie Wheeler, who comes from a long line of Seagulls stars had set shots to win the game and cause a huge upset and twice he missed.

Once hitting the post and then just pushing his kick right for another behind — he looked absolutely shattered post match

Willie Wheeler was shattered when the final siren went.

Wow, another amazing finish. Poor Willie Wheeler, two shots to win it, missed both. Tigers deserved it, though. #VFLGF

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) September 22, 2019

In reality it was amazing that Williamstown got that close.

They appeared hopelessly outclassed in an opening term when they were herald goal less before they were sparked by small forward Billy Myers, who kicked a cracking goal from the pocket and then promptly let Tigers fans know what he thought of them — as he celebrated the goal by flipping off the yellow and black army.

Billy Myers from the boundary!

...and then flipped off the crowd 😳#VFL pic.twitter.com/Q4FOqtgI5U

— 7VFL (@7VFL) September 22, 2019

“Defenders don’t kick goals like that,” the commentators mused.

“Magnificent finish and he’s given them the bird as well.”

Williamstown roared back into the match in the second half at Ikon Park and were within 14 points at three-quarter time but they just couldn’t quite pull it off.

Earlier in the day Richmond defender Bachar Houli went on The Sunday Footy show and said he felt vindicated that the AFL did not site him for his high contact with Geelong forward Grian Myers on Friday night.

“I think I am a fair player,” Houli said.

“I was confident enough there wasn’t much in it.”

He did however reveal his wife was very stressed out that the incident could have seen him miss the Grand Final.

”Every wife knows the struggles a footballer goes through, so to miss out on a Grand Final for something I don’t intentionally do, because it’s not part of my nature, that’s one thing she would have been disappointed about.”