‘They’ll be building a statue’: New Tigers cult hero Stack arrives with a bangApril 24, 2019 11:22pm
Anna Harrington
FOX SPORTSJack Viney looked like he couldn’t believe it.
The bullocking Melbourne midfielder was making his way along the MCG flank when he was left sprawling by the full force of a Tiger playing just his fourth game of AFL football.
If Sydney Stack hadn’t already announced himself to the AFL world with a superb flying mark earlier in the game, he’d made a name for himself with his crunching hit in the fourth term of the Tigers’ win on Anzac Day eve.
“It (the bump) was unbelievable, you sort of heard it before you saw it, he was that quick,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick told reporters post-match.
“And we all know how tough Jack Viney is too and both those boys aren’t going to take a backwards step.
“And it was funny, we were probably summing up Sydney’s game – he’s slowly become a fan favourite, he’s taken a hanger, he did a massive bump and he’s kicked a torpedo.
“They’ll be building a statue of him across the road, shortly, the Richmond faithful.”
But if Stack had announced himself to the footy world that day, he’d made an impression on all and sundry at Tigerland long before that.
Only signed as a supplemental list rookie in February, having been overlooked in the national and rookie draft, Stack kicked on from earning a Tiger contract to making his debut – then making a serious impression.
“I suppose he’s (taken) everyone by surprise,” Tigers star Shane Edwards told Foxfooty.com.au post-match.
“You don’t really expect a first-year player to play like he does in such a crucial position – he plays in defence and not high-up, he plays on a lot of players.
“Let alone, he didn’t even get drafted or rookied … his composure and skills under pressure are amazing.
“We knew early in the pre-season how tough he was and a hit like he did tonight you don’t see very often nowadays in the game and he just attacks the ball so hard that he was bound to do something like that eventually.
“But it’s the skills under pressure and just how switched on he is when he doesn’t have the ball is really, really impressive and I can’t wait to see what sort of player he becomes.”
Stack had 12 disposals, three marks, three inside-50s, three rebound-50s and four tackles against the Demons – but his influence went well beyond stats.
In a similar vein, it’s the confidence and personality of the young Tiger that’s won over all and sundry at Richmond – not just his footballing ability.
“Well he’s one of the most confident kids that I’ve ever seen walk in the door,” Edwards said.
“One of his first days, straightaway he connected his iPhone to all our Bluetooth speakers and normally you don’t really touch the speakers unless you’ve played about 10 years – so that was a sign that he was probably going to be alright on the big stage.
“And he’s just so open – he’s had a few hardships in his life and the fact that he’s battled through all that to make it here, it’s almost like this is easy compared to that, so he’s so impressive.”
And the type of music Stack blasted through those speakers?
“It was just trap music and some of the dirtiest beats I’ve ever heard,” Edwards said with a rueful grin.
Meanwhile, Hardwick – who had the pleasure of hosting Stack early in his Richmond days – reminisced on another classic memory of the young gun.
“He wasn’t too bad. I remember my daughter had some friends over and she made like one of those plates with salami and all that on … and cheeses and that sort of thing,” Hardwick said.
“And the next day I see him out the back around the pool and he’s got the same thing by himself.
“It’s like he’s just one of those sort of guys but he’s playing some really good footy at the moment, he’s very grounded as well – he knows what makes him a good player.”
Hardwick also confirmed the “relentless” character often called him to check what time training was on.
The Richmond coach credited Stack’s early success to the open and welcoming approach at Tigerland.
“Relentless, relentless he is,” Hardwick said.
“But our players love him, he’s that sort of character and he’s got a real persona about him in the footy club and we’re very, very fortunate at this footy club that we embrace those type of characters and we allow them to be who they are.
“Are they annoying every now and then? Yeah, but the reality is, they are who they are.
“And that’s one thing Trent (Cotchin) and his leaders have really stood for, about embracing all personalities and diversities and once again, we feel that gets the best out of all our players and we’re very lucky to have him.”
And based off four short games, the AFL world could be lucky to watch Stack for a long time to come.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-richmonds-new-cult-hero-sydney-stack-arrives-with-a-bang-bumping-jack-viney-and-taking-a-screamer/news-story/a989756ce142b2de457a19dbacd39428
