GWS coach Leon Cameron makes no apologies for taking a brutal shot at the AFL title.

Cameron reckons only a merciless approach will deliver an upset grand final win against Richmond on Saturday at the MCG.

Chief protagonist Toby Greene will light the fuse, but Cameron says it’s “over-rated” to dwell on his side’s recent reputation for borderline aggression.

“In finals footy we push the line in terms of our attack on the footy,” Cameron told reporters on Friday.

“But our tackle pressure has been first rate, along with the Tigers as well.

“I don’t think that is pushing the line. It’s just the basic fundamentals of the game.

“We were in that position where we were cut-throat and we had to win and so we have raised the stakes on our tackle pressure.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, flanking Cameron at the pre-game media conference in Melbourne on Friday, knew exactly what his Giants counterpart meant.

“The fact of the matter is we have had to play the same way,” Hardwick said.

“It’s why you get to where you get to. It’s a hard, tough, brutal industry and it’s a hard, tough, brutal game.

“The side that goes hardest for the longest is going to probably win tomorrow … it’s going to be a ding-dong battle.”

Richmond’s path to a possible second premiership in three seasons, and 12th overall, has been smooth.

They’re on an 11-game winning streak. And they’re backing the temperament of 27-year-old Marlion Pickett to shine when making a debut in a grand final.

Pickett, who spent 30 months in jail when younger for burglary offences, was plucked by the Tigers from the WA state league in the mid-season draft.

“We backed in our gut,” Hardwick said of the shock selection.

“It’s a great story, a lot of people will tell you that. But the reality is this kid can play.”

Pickett will debut in front of a sell-out 100,000 crowd at the MCG against the Giants, in their first grand final in eight AFL seasons.

The newcomers will have scant support in a pro-Richmond crowd expected to target GWS arch villain Greene on return from suspension.

“I know he’s a player of interest all the time because of the way he plays the game,” Cameron said of his polarising forward.

“His week has been great. He was relieved when the siren went last week, he was disappointed he wasn’t out there playing his role.

“But he’s ready to go. He loves playing finals footy, he has got a really good record thus far.

“It’s going to be different tomorrow because we’re going into uncharted territory because we haven’t been there before.”

Hardwick, himself a rugged player, admired Greene’s combative style.

“He’s a terrific player,” Hardwick said.

“I love the way that GWS go about their football. They are hard. They are tough. It’s everything we want our boys to be as well.”

The Tigers won the 2017 grand final to end a 37-year premiership drought but Hardwick hasn’t dipped into that experience this campaign.

“I haven’t even really though about 2017 to be honest, we have taken what is in front of us now,” Hardwick said.

“The one thing our club and our boys are very good at, is just remaining present.

“It’s a different season, it’s a different team, it’s a different opportunity.”