2019 AFL Grand Final – Richmond Tigers Vs GWS Giants

Final Score – 2019 AFL Grand Final

Margin: Richmond by 89 points
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Date: 28 September 2019
Attendance: 100,014
Norm Smith Medallist: Dustin Martin (Richmond)

A Grand Final for the Ages – and One-Sided Brilliance

The 2019 AFL Grand Final will forever stand as one of the most emphatic statements of dominance in the history of Australian football. Richmond didn’t just beat Greater Western Sydney — they overwhelmed, dismantled, and completely controlled the contest from the second quarter onward in a performance that redefined what a modern Grand Final blowout looks like.

For GWS, simply reaching the Grand Final was a historic achievement. For Richmond, it was the final chapter in a season that confirmed their status as the competition’s benchmark club.

This was not a fairy tale ending. This was football brutality at its highest level.

The Context: Two Clubs, Two Very Different Journeys

Richmond Tigers – A Dynasty in Motion

By the time Richmond ran out onto the MCG in late September, they were already viewed as the most feared finals team in the competition. Under Damien Hardwick, the Tigers had built a system based on relentless pressure, speed at ground level, and elite mental toughness.

Having already claimed premierships in 2017 and 2019, this Grand Final represented an opportunity to cement an era — not just a season.

GWS Giants – History Makers, But Spent

GWS entered the Grand Final from sixth on the ladder, following a remarkable finals run that included:

• A brutal elimination final win
• A semi-final victory against Brisbane at the Gabba
• A courageous preliminary final triumph over Collingwood at the MCG

But the physical and emotional toll was evident. Key injuries, including Stephen Coniglio, and a short turnaround left the Giants vulnerable against a fresher, faster opponent.

How the Match Was Won: Pressure, Territory, Ruthlessness

The first quarter was competitive, if scrappy. GWS applied early pressure and remained within touching distance. But once Richmond found their rhythm midway through the second term, the contest was effectively over.

Richmond’s Pressure Game Was Relentless

Richmond’s ability to trap the ball in their forward half, force turnovers, and surge forward in waves proved overwhelming. The Tigers outworked the Giants at ground level, dominated contested possessions, and consistently beat GWS to the fall of the ball.

From a tactical perspective, this was Hardwick’s system at its peak.

Dustin Martin – The Ultimate Big-Game Player

Winning a second Norm Smith Medal, Dustin Martin once again proved he thrives when the stakes are highest.

Norm Smith Medal Performance:

• 22 disposals
• 2 goals
• 18 score involvements
• Elite clearance work under pressure

What separated Martin was not just his numbers, but his timing. Every time GWS threatened to regain momentum, Martin responded with a clearance, a goal, or a decisive forward entry.

In real terms, this performance confirmed him as one of the greatest Grand Final players the game has seen — joining an elite group whose reputations are built on September excellence.

Unsung Heroes and Standout Tigers

While Martin took home the medal, Richmond’s victory was built on a complete team performance.

Players Who Elevated the Win:

• Trent Cotchin: Inspirational leadership, hard at the contest
• Dion Prestia: Tireless two-way running and midfield pressure
• Bachar Houli: Calm, damaging ball use across half-back
• Jack Riewoldt & Tom Lynch: Constant movement that stretched the Giants’ defence
• Marlion Pickett: A fairytale debut season culminating in a premiership — an AFL story for the ages

Pickett’s rise from mid-season draft to premiership player remains one of the most unique stories in Grand Final history.

GWS: A Brave Campaign Ends in Disappointment

For GWS, the scoreboard will forever hurt — but history should remember the journey, not just the final result.

Players like Josh Kelly, Toby Greene, Phil Davis, and Jeremy Cameron had carried enormous loads across September. On Grand Final day, they simply ran into a better-prepared, better-drilled side.

This was not a failure — it was a harsh lesson in what premiership-standard football truly demands.

A Grand Final Unlike Any Other

This Grand Final was significant for several historical reasons:

• One of the largest winning margins in AFL Grand Final history
• Only the second Grand Final since 1980 where neither team finished top two
• The eighth consecutive Grand Final featuring a Victorian vs non-Victorian club
• A defining moment in Richmond’s modern dynasty

2019 AFL Grand Final Team Matchups

Richmond Tigers

B: 12 David Astbury 35 Nathan Broad 2 Dylan Grimes
HB: 14 Bachar Houli 1 Nick Vlastuin 15 Jayden Short
C: 5 Brandon Ellis 3 Dion Prestia 22 Josh Caddy
HF: 17 Daniel Rioli 9 Trent Cotchin (c) 23 Kane Lambert
F: 11 Jason Castagna 19 Tom Lynch 8 Jack Riewoldt
Foll: 25 Toby Nankervis 10 Shane Edwards 4 Dustin Martin
Int: 29 Shai Bolton 47 Ivan Soldo 48 Liam Baker 50 Marlion Pickett
Coach: Damien Hardwick

GWS Giants

B: 19 Nick Haynes 1 Phil Davis (c) 35 Aidan Corr
HB: 2 Jacob Hopper 15 Sam Taylor 23 Heath Shaw
C: 29 Zac Williams 22 Josh Kelly 6 Lachie Whitfield
HF: 50 Sam Reid 18 Jeremy Cameron 4 Toby Greene
F: 27 Harry Himmelberg 31 Jeremy Finlayson 16 Brent Daniels
Foll: 41 Shane Mumford 14 Tim Taranto 24 Matt de Boer
Int: 20 Adam Tomlinson 36 Harry Perryman 38 Daniel Lloyd 40 Adam Kennedy
Coach: Leon Cameron

Final Thoughts: A Grand Final That Defined an Era

The 2019 AFL Grand Final wasn’t just a premiership — it was a statement. Richmond showed what elite preparation, belief, and system-based football looks like on the biggest stage.

For fans, it was unforgettable.
For Richmond supporters, it was perfection.
For the AFL, it was a reminder that dynasties are built in September.

This match will be studied, debated, and remembered as one of the most complete Grand Final performances in the modern era.

If you love AFL history, this was a Grand Final that defined greatness.