Richmond have the new AFL dynasty they craved, teaching GWS a brutal grand final lesson with their 89-point thrashing.
Dustin Martin won his second Norm Smith Medal as best afield, Marlion Pickett made a stunning AFL debut and Jack Riewoldt kicked five goals in the 17.12 (114) to 3.7 (25) thrashing.
It is the third-biggest AFL grand final margin and GWS, on debut, kicked the lowest score in a premiership decider since 1960.
Saturday’s triumph in front of 100,014 fans at the MCG is the second Richmond flag in three years, confirming Damien Hardwick’s men as the latest AFL pacesetters.
Fittingly, Maureen Hafey presented the premiership cup to Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin.
Her late husband, the legendary Tom Hafey, coached Richmond to their last dynasty that featured the 1967, ’69 and 73-74 premierships.
It is Richmond’s 12th flag, drawing them level with Melbourne in equal-fifth place, and banished to history last year’s upset preliminary final loss to Collingwood.
Hardwick said they spoke in a pre-season camp about wanting to realise their potential as a multiple-flag team.
“We went through a bit of a journey about (how) sides can still have dynasties, but they might lose one along the way … a bad day,” Hardwick said.
“It’s easy to sit here in hindsight and say it was, but I think we had absolute belief that we could get back and play to the very best of our ability.”
Richmond overcame great adversity this year to win the flag, with star defender Alex Rance sidelined after round one because of a knee injury.
Martin, captain Trent Cotchin and Riewoldt – the rest of their Big Four – also were sidelined through injury at times.
They were teetering on 7-6 at their mid-season, but then went on a 12-game winning streak that culminated in Saturday’s triumph.
“You separate one (premiership) from the other – this year I felt was more special, the adversity we’ve been through,”‘ Hardwick said.
Martin shone with four goals and is the first player to win two Norm Smiths, play in two premiership teams and win the Brownlow Medal.
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 only recruited four months ago, impressed as he became just the sixth player in AFL history to debut in a grand final.
Teammates mobbed him when a pass from Martin set him up for his first AFL goal in the third term.
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.
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.
Riewoldt, his direct opponent, always 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.
Greene and several teammates were in tears post-game, but coach Leon Cameron said the belting could be the making of the Giants.
“It makes them hungry, which is exactly what you need,” Cameron said.
