Tiger sensation pushes case for GF debut with best-on-ground effort AFL.com.au
Jennifer Phelan
Sep 22, 2019 5:26PMRICHMOND 4.4 4.8 5.10 8.10 (58)
WILLIAMSTOWN 0.0 2.4 3.8 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Richmond: Townsend 2, Collier-Dawkins 2, Pickett, Ballard, Naish, Markov
Williamstown: Masters, Myers, Rodda, Pickess, Kennedy, Wheeler, Ottavi
BEST
Richmond: Pickett, Morris, Eggmolesse-Smith, Collier-Dawkins, Balta
Williamstown: Hibberd, Dorgan, Wheeler, Meese
Reports: Butler (Richmond) reported for striking Mellington (Williamstown) in the second quarter
Umpires: Pell, Rebeschini, Rodger, Porter
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A BEST-ON-GROUND performance by Richmond mid-season draftee Marlion Pickett in Sunday's VFL Grand Final has opened the door for his remarkable call-up for Saturday's AFL decider against Greater Western Sydney.
Pickett had 19 possessions and nine tackles in the Tigers' thrilling three-point win over Williamstown at Ikon Park after he kicked the opening goal of the game.
He was crowned the Norm Goss medallist in the Tigers' maiden VFL premiership win after his strong bid to be considered for a debut at Thursday's AFL selection table.
However, Sunday's triumph is likely the only one Sydney Stack and Dan Butler will experience this week with the pair unlikely to figure in plans for the decider against the Giants.
As the Tigers hung on to claim victory after the Seagulls moved within one point and missed two chances to steal the lead late in the game, Stack was hobbled by a fresh collision injury to his lower right leg sustained early in the last quarter.
He spent time a brief period on the bench but looked less than convincing when he returned before he finished his managed minutes with a quiet six possessions.
The fresh injury will almost certainly rule the first-year revelation out of a remarkable return to the AFL stage this week, given the VFL decider was already his first game in 36 days following left ankle surgery.
Butler, who was one of the Tigers' best in the opening quarter as they raced to a 28-point lead, was reported for striking Williamstown's Nick Mellington in the second term.
The 2017 premiership forward was unlikely to figure in Damien Hardwick's plans for next week anyway, especially after the Tigers withdrew Kamdyn McIntosh and Jack Ross before the bounce.
Likewise fellow premiership teammate Jacob Townsend, who did all he could to press for a call-up with his typical hard-tackling approach, 11 possessions and two goals, including an important steadier in the last quarter after the Seagulls moved within one point.
Also strong for the Tigers, and in promising signs for the future, were Riley Collier-Dawkins through the midfield and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith across half-back.
The game looked all but done at the first change after the Seagulls failed to score in the opening term, but they clawed their way back into it after the Tigers failed to capitalise on their early dominance.
The half-time difference was 16 points after the Tigers didn't register a goal in the second, which allowed the Seagulls the chance to pounce after the main break.
Late in the fourth, Willie Wheeler had two chances to put Williamstown in the lead in the dying minutes but shanked two set shots, which allowed the Tigers to hold on to a historic victory.
It was the club's second VFL Grand Final appearance after finishing runners-up to Port Melbourne in 2017.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-09-22/tigers-sensation-pickett-pushes-case-for-gf-with-bestonground-performance
