'He's a very good player': Dimma lauds sensational Stack AFL.com.au
Ben Collins and Callum Twomey
July 1, 2019 RICHMOND prodigy Sydney Stack continues to show up recruiters who overlooked him in last year's NAB AFL Draft.
The exciting young Tiger further enhanced his claims on the NAB AFL Rising Star award with a brilliant three-goal first half that has kept his team in the contest against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Saints, smarting from their shattering loss to Brisbane at the same venue, burst out of the blocks with the first three goals before Stack, 19, again displayed maturity beyond his years to almost single-handedly drag the Tigers back into the game.
Swung forward by coach Damien Hardwick, the explosive West Australian soared to take a screamer late in the first term and coolly converted Richmond's first goal from close range.
Early in the second quarter, with St Kilda defenders becoming increasingly nervous around him, Stack showed considerable nous to conjure a free kick for holding the man, and he had no problems with a regulation set shot.
Late in the second term came an even better effort, when he received a handball outside 50, danced around an opponent and kicked truly from 45 metres to bring Richmond within four points at half-time.
He finished with four goals for the game, including a late sealer in the final term.
Hardwick credited the decision to play Stack in the forward line to a member of the club's administration outside of the coaches' box.
"It was funny, our head of integrity Steve Wyatt half suggested it to me and it grew from there. We did briefly toy with [Shane Edwards] moving back through the middle, but we thought his head down back is really important and Sydney we always feel can play forward," he said.
"He also played through the middle again today which we think is going to be his go going forward.
"Whether it stays the same next week we're not too sure but we did see (Brisbane's) Charlie Cameron have a similar type of impact against the Saints last week so that had something to do with it as well."
Stack doubled his career goal tally in the first half, after kicking just three goals in his previous 11 games.
He has played every game since making his debut in the round three loss to Greater Western Sydney and continues to capture plenty of buzz as a possible winner of the Rising Star award.
"He's a very good player. At the end of the day, other people pick that award but if we go through the draft, I'm picking my guy," Hardwick said.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-06-30/sensational-stack-puts-on-a-firsthalf-masterclass
