It was the selection that rocked grand final week but Richmond were more than vindicated when debutant Marlion Pickett turned it on against the Giants.
The 27-year-old was named to replace Jack Graham, with many questioning the wisdom of selecting an untried player on the biggest stage of all.
By half time, Damien Hardwick and co. would have been more than happy with their decision, and by three-quarter time they would have been absolutely laughing.
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Pickett, the first grand final debutant since 1952, worked into the game in the first quarter but when he did, he looked right where he belonged.
When he turned Lachie Whitfield with a pirouette out of the middle to set up a shot on goal for Jason Castagna, one of the great grand final stories was well underway.
PICKETT BROUGHT OUT THE 360 🍥
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 28, 2019
(watch the Grand Final on 7) pic.twitter.com/CIV0vgkfAb
The Tigers gave up the first goal of the match but GWS barely fired a shot after, with the result all but put to bed when Pickett lifted the roof of the 'G with a goal midway through the third term.
First game, first Grand Final, first goal.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 28, 2019
What a roar!!!
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Having taken the long way around to get to league football, Pickett's journey to the big time was complete as he steered through a set shot to give his side a 54-point lead.
That goal had been set up by the great Dustin Martin, who had already kicked three goals to have one hand on a second Norm Smith Medal.
Pickett notably spent time in prison as a teenager and, having been picked up in the mid-season draft, claimed the best-on-ground in Richmond's VFL win last week.
Hardwick gave a glowing endorsement of him at Friday's press conference and Pickett showed exactly why, his poise in front of a 100,000 crowd a standout as the Tigers bashed and crashed their way to a second flag in three years.
