Curtain drawn on Gary Ablett’s career as Richmond defeat Geelong to win 2020 AFL Grand Final

2020 AFL Grand Final; The Gabba, Saturday 25 October 2020 Ben Jensen RICHMOND produced a stunning second half turnaround defeating Geelong by Geelong by 31 points to win the 2020 AFL Premiership, their second in a row and third from four seasons. Inspired by eventual Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin who’s late second half goal ended the Cats run of five goals the Tigers out-scored the Cats four and five goals to one in third and fourth quarters, a 51-point turnaround. Gary Ablett’s career ended with a guard of honour from both sides as he left the ground only able to hold one arm above his head to wave to the crowd.

The match saw several shocking injuries the first being Tiger Nick Vlastuin who suffered concussion thanks to an errant Patrick Dangerfield elbow seconds before retiring great Ablett suffered a dislocated shoulder. Vlastuin had his Surf Coast house damaged by fire in suspicious circumstances on Friday morning so has had a rough couple days but another Premiership medal should help. Sam Simpsons was next to be concussed midway through the final term.

Ratugolea 2, Close, Hawkins

AFL GRAND FINAL 2020
RICHMOND TIGERS V GEELONG CATS
SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2020, 19:30 AEDT
GABBA, BRISBANE
MATCH PREVIEW

RICHMOND TIGERS: 2.1, 3.2, 7.4, 12.9 (81) DEFEATED
GEELONG CATS: 2.2, 5.5, 6.8, 7.8 (50)

GOALS
RICHMOND TIGERS: Martin 4, Prestia 2, Riewoldt 2, Castagna, Lambert, Lynch, McIntosh
GEELONG CATS: Menegola 2, Dangerfield, Duncan, Guthrie, Hawkins, Miers

BEST
RICHMOND TIGERS: Martin, Short, Edwards, Prestia, Cotchin, Bolton
GEELONG CATS: Duncan, Stewart, Selwood, Menegola, Dahlhaus

INJURIES
RICHMOND TIGERS: Nick Vlastuin (concussion), Bashar Houli (calf)
GEELONG CATS: Sam Simpson (concussion), Gary Ablett (shoulder)

CHANGES
RICHMOND TIGERS: Nil
GEELONG CATS: Nil

REPORTS
RICHMOND TIGERS: –
GEELONG CATS: –

CROWD: 29,000 approx at The Gabba, Brisbane

UMPIRES
FIELD: Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer EM: Robert Findlay
BOUNDARY: Michael Marantelli, Ian Burrows, Matthew Konetschka, Matthew Tomkins
GOAL: Matthew Dervan, Steven Piperno EM: Steven Axon

GEELONG CATS – SELECTED SIDE
IN: –
OUT: –
B: Jed Bews, Harry Taylor, Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: Lachie Henderson, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart
C: Mitch Duncan, Joel Selwood, Sam Menegola
HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers
F: Mark O’Connor, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
FOLL: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Guthrie
INT: Jack Henry, Brandan Parfitt, Zach Tuohy, Sam Simpson
EMER: Tom Atkins, Zach Guthrie, Esava Ratugolea, Brad Close

RICHMOND TIGERS – SELECTED SIDE
IN: –
OUT: -B: David Astbury, Dylan Grimes, Noah Balta
HB: Liam Baker, Nick Vlastuin, Bachar Houli
C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Marlion Pickett
HF: Kane Lambert, Jason Castagna, Dustin Martin
F: Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt, Daniel Rioli
FOLL: Toby Nankervis, Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin
INT: Jack Graham, Shai Bolton, Jayden Short, Nathan Broad
EMER: Oleg Markov, Josh Caddy, Mabior Chol, Jake Aarts

FIELD: Nick Foot, Ray Chamberlain, Craig Fleer EM: Leigh Haussen
BOUNDARY: Chris Esler, Matthew Konetschka, Chris Bull, Lachlan Rayner
GOAL: Steven Axon, Daniel Hoskin EM: Chelsea Roffey