The Richmond Tigers absolutely ambushed the GWS Giants with a record beat down in the Grand Final.
The hopes of the eight-year-old team were dashed as the Tigers ran rampant after a tight first quarter after which it was just seven points the difference at 2.3 (15) to 1.2 (8).
But the Tigers went up a gear from there to claim the premiership with a 17.12 (114) to 3.7 (25).
The Giants appeared to be trying to play a high possession game but the Tigers were never going to be held back in front of a huge hometown crowd.
The Giants, a side still in their infancy, were monstered by the Tigers with the lowest losing score in a grand final since 1960.
The last team to score less than 25 points was Collingwood, who scored 2.2 (14) in their 1960 loss to the Demons.
The day that could have been the greatest in the Giants’ short history quickly became a nightmare with the side recording the lowest ever score, shading the 13.7 (85) to 4.5 (29) thrashing against Hawthorn at Manuka Oval earlier this season.
It was also the third biggest margin in AFL Grand Final history.
Not all is lost for Giants fans after a brilliant season to register their first decider so early in the club’s history with the experience bound to make the side better for the run.
But it was again the Tigers’ day, sealing a second title in three years.
While the Tigers were celebrating the club’s 12th premiership after the 89-point drubbing, the tears flowed for the Giants.
On the presentation stage, Giants captain Phil Davis had few words after the disappointing finish to the season.
“First of all Damien Hardwick and the whole Richmond Football Club — congratulations,” he said. “You have been an outstanding club for many years. You set the bar again this year. To the Giants Football Club as a whole, to the fans, thank you so much for all your support this year. We might be small in numbers but we have a big heart. To the players, we will be back.”
Speaking on Channel 7 after the game, Davis said he was disappointed the side couldn’t do more for the players who weren’t there.
“I’m so proud of my whole football club — from the chairman all the way through to my coach and my footy manager and especially my players,” Davis said.
“I look at Cal Ward and it makes me emotional. He’s the heart and soul of the club and we lost him early in the year, then we lost Cogs (Stephen Coniglio) as well, and then Brett (Deledio). They all deserved more.
“We had to fight through so many different things, whether it be Lachie’s (Whitfield) appendix last week or whatever it is, we’ve just had to keep fighting different paths but that’s what holds you together. That’s the glue that will hold the club together and hopefully we can get a bit of luck and also improve. We have to improve because we want to be back.”
Three-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews said it would be tough to get over for the Giants but the side would be back.
“It’s a sad and embarrassing day because it’s hard enough to get here but they’ll bounce back, it’s not the be-all and end-all and only one game of footy,” he said on 3AW.
But social media was quick to kick off with the jokes quickly out in force.
Even Victoria Police were in on it.
Others looked at what could have been.
The Giants’ first grand final was in trouble even before the game started in front of 100,014 fans.
Co-captain Phil Davis was put through a fitness test an hour before the first bounce because of his sore calf.
GWS took the punt on playing him and it backfired horribly, with the key defender clearly proppy after he was hurt in last week’s nailbiting preliminary final win over Collingwood.
Davis’ opponent Jack Riewoldt repeatedly had the jump on him leading for the ball and kicked five goals.
— with AAP
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