THE TIGERS OF BOLD
Pickett to make grand final debut
AFL:
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has pulled a sensational grand final selection move with mature-aged mid-season recruit Marlion Pickett to make his AFL debut in the premiership decider.
The Tigers confirmed yesterday afternoon that Pickett, 27, would come into the line-up to replace Jack Graham, who was ruled out on Tuesday with a dislocated shoulder.
The selection bombshell caps a meteoric rise for the midfielder who was playing in the WAFL with South Fremantle in May when the Tigers pounced with the 13th pick at the mid-season draft.
Pickett pushed his claim when he won the Norm Goss Medal as the best player on the field in Richmond’s VFL grand final win over Williamstown last week.
“There’s the emotional side of this story but (if he gets) a game it’s because of his football and what he’s done on the field, not because it’s a great story or anything like that,” Tigers assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said before the move was made public.
“It’s because he’s deserved his opportunity, he’s the best available player for this week and he’s put his hand up to play this week.
“If it was round 17 it wouldn’t be such a big issue, it’s just the fact it’s such a big occasion that it probably becomes more of an exterior issue.”
On the field, Richmond are confident they can “absorb the punches” and withstand Greater Western Sydney’s physicality as they home in on a second premiership in three years.
Leppitsch said the Tigers were prepared for the Giants to throw everything at them in the expansion club’s first AFL grand final appearance.
But the Lions’ triple premiership player said the Tigers would not be rattled.
“One thing that we have been really good at is absorbing that, absorbing the punches,” Leppitsch said yesterday.
“That’s the thing, that’s what we know is coming, we know that they’re going to bring that.
“I couldn’t imagine Shane Mumford deciding this is the game that he’s going to take his foot off the pedal.
“We know that’s coming, it’s just about how we absorb that and are able to overcome that and when it’s our turn, get the game on our terms so that is going to be the key.”
Leppitsch acknowledged the “combative” players the Giants had in their line-up, but said the message to the Tigers would be to not get sucked in.
with Rebecca Williams