Two years ago, Richmond’s AFL premiership was a raucous explosion of pent-up champagne.
This time, it’s a fine red wine – savoured, given time to bask and appreciate.
The Tigers’ 89-point belting of GWS on Saturday was a fizzer of a grand final – unless you’re Richmond.
The Giants’ resistance lasted just 25 minutes, until Tigers hero Dusty Martin kicked the first of his four goals.
Martin’s strike was a ripple resulting in a yellow-and-black tsunami: 11-consecutive goals in one hour of football perfection from Richmond.
Dusty did as Dusty does in grand finals. As in 2017, he collects the Norm Smith medal as best-afield after four goals among his 22 disposals.
Martin is in rare air, joining Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge as two-time winners of the grand gong.
If not for Dusty, Bachar Houli would have two Norm Smiths himself.
As in 2017, Houli was a half-back burst of dash and dare, gathering 26 touches – one more than on grand final day two years ago.
And as in 2017, Houli was rated second to Martin by voters of the medal.
Debutant Marlion Pickett was an instant hit: 22 disposals, eight inside 50s, one goal and one blind-turn which instantly entered footy folklore.
Pickett formed a relentless Richmond midfield, headed by Dion Prestia (22 touches) and Shane Edwards (21 disposals, six tackles).
The Tigers controlled the rucks (42 hit-outs to 18), allowing their forwards to dine on silver service – Jack Riewoldt kicked five goals, Tom Lynch booted two and is a premiership player, exactly why he left Gold Coast a year ago.
And Richmond’s defence was downright miserly, led by Nick Vlastuin’s masterly shutdown of Jeremy Cameron.
For the Tigers, their 12th flag was the complete premiership package.
“It was a special effort – our boys were outstanding,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.
“It was an arm-wrestle for a quarter-and-a-half and then our guys just powered down.”
For the Giants, their first grand final was a nightmare – bar the first 25 minutes.
“Clearly after quarter-time, we as a footy club didn’t play a brand that could stand up to Richmond,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
“We’re rapt that we’re playing on the big stage. But disappointed that we didn’t live up to our end of the bargain and bring a better spectacle.”
Co-captain Phil Davis was hobbled by injury and struggled; Toby Greene gave away the most free free kicks (four) of anyone; and Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron was blanketed after kicking the opening goal.
Tom Taranto’s stocks rose further with a game-high 30 disposals, defender Nick Haynes was a standout and veteran Heath Shaw (29 touches) battled valiantly in what might have been his last AFL game.
