Who you on? The AFL’s past or future?
Richmond, protectors of the past. Or Greater Western Sydney, carriers of the future.
Saturday’s AFL grand final is a clash of then and now; an old guard against new.
The Tigers, the badge of inner-Melbourne’s Richmond – traditional, blue collar, black-and gold blood. Hunting a second flag in three years.
And the Giants, the AFL implant in rugby league heartland, western Sydney, home to 2.5 million people.
Richmond, the red-hot favourites, have already won the feel-good story: Marlion Pickett, the first player in 67 years to make a debut in a grand final.
Pickett wasn’t even on Richmond’s list at the start of the season – he was plucked in the mid-season draft from the WA state league.
Pickett’s back-story will get plenty of play: 30 months jail for burglary offences, released in 2013, returned to footy, won two WAFL club champion awards.
Now an AFL grand final.
“When I was told I didn’t believe it ” he said.
Pickett takes the spot of injured teammate Jack Graham, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in last week’s preliminary final victory against Geelong.
The Giants are assured of one thing in their first grand final: Toby Greene, cast as the villain, will get booed every time he nears the ball.
Greene returns with star winger Lachie Whitfield, back after having an appendix removed last week.
Whitfield and Greene offer massive power to the Giants, who dropped Lachie Keefe and Bobby Hill.
Saturday marks a momentous step in Giants history: a grand final just eight seasons in.
Just over 10 years ago, the club had one employee – Alan McConnell, the Giants director of coaching.
“It’s a big occasion,” he said.
“Richmond have been there before and we haven’t so I think on the basis we control our emotions we’ll be fine.”
The Tigers ended their 37-year premiership drought in 2017 by crushing another non-Victorian challenger, Adelaide.
Last year, many pundits tipped a repeat only for Damien Hardwick’s team to fall in a preliminary final.
Now, Hardwick has his Tigers back where they believe they belong.
Richmond carry expectation: they’re bookies favourite by some margin in a two-horse race – $1.40 to the Giants’ $3.20.
But they’re wary of a Giants side riding the wave of a stunning September: a home thrashing of the Western Bulldogs, then two away spirit-lifters against Brisbane (three points) then Collingwood (four points).
GWS are newcomers to the biggest AFL day, but they’re battle-hardened: 14 of their 22-strong squad have played in seven or more finals.
“The Giants, they’re warriors,” Richmond’s assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said.
“They’ll battle to the end no matter what happens.
“One thing I know about grand final day is that the chance of the favourite winning or the underdog winning is probably 50-50.
“Any team that gets to here, you’re a pretty bloody good team.”
