When the heat was on in Saturday’s AFL grand final, the youngest player on the ground stood up magnificently.
Nineteen years old and playing just his fifth AFL game, Richmond midfielder Jack Graham had a day he’ll never forget, booting three goals as the Tigers downed Adelaide by 48 points to break a 37-year premiership drought.
None was more important in the 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60) victory than Graham’s first major late in the second quarter.
After a fiercely contested opening in which the Crows started strongest, Graham’s brilliant goal put the Tigers ahead for the first time – a position they would retain for the rest of the game.
It started with Shane Edwards, who backed himself in a one-on-one with Adelaide’s Richard Douglas, seized on Kyle Hartigan’s hurried clearance and dished the ball to Trent Cotchin.
The Tigers’ skipper swerved through the traffic and handballed perfectly to a roving Graham, who evaded his man, gathered himself and booted a wonderfully composed goal.
It was a microcosm of everything Richmond have prided themselves on the season – fierce pressure around the ball, hardness at the contest and unselfishness in front of goals.
“Superb finish by a young player, Jack Graham,” Geelong great Cameron Ling said while commentating for the Seven Network.
“Just swooped on that footy – lifted his teammates.
“It has been a theme of their finals.
“When it’s scrappy and when it’s congested, Richmond have still been able to find a way to kick those crucial goals.”
Moments later, Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin beat Luke Brown in a marking contest and lined up for his first goal as the Tigers held Adelaide goalless in a quarter for the first time.
Graham went on to kick two more goals, both from set shots, in the third term – one after being tackled high by Crows star Rory Sloane, the other on the back of a brilliant leading mark.
He finished with 16 disposals, three tackles and five clearances, and was also instrumental in helping to keep Sloane relatively quiet with his physicality at the stoppages.
