Richmond coach Damien Hardwick sees a bit of Byron Pickett in a young Tiger.
Sydney Stack will make his AFL debut in the Round 3 clash with GWS on Saturday after impressing the Tigers coaching staff.
Teenager Stack was overlooked in the 2018 national and rookie drafts but won a spot on Richmond’s list via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) and will now run out at the elite level for the first time.
Hardwick won the 2004 premiership alongside the physical and skilful Pickett at Port Adelaide and feels there is a bit of the Norm Smith Medallist in new Tiger Stack.
"I played with a guy, Byron Pickett, and he reminds me a little bit of him,” Hardwick told AFL.com.au.
"He is genuinely tough and he's excited our coaches.
"With a little bit of refinement, I think he's got a really long career ahead of him, which is exciting.
"It's a great thing our club has done in giving this kid a chance, because the easy thing to do is to sweep him aside."
Stack spent time living with his new coach earlier this year and the Western Australian has been described as a “revelation” since gaining an opportunity with the 2017 premiers.
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"Our recruiting team talked about Sydney and the talent he had and where they ranked him in the draft, and there were obviously some question marks with regard to 'Could he cope in the AFL environment?'," Hardwick added.
"I thought, 'Well, the only way we're going to be sold on this is if I feel he can cope'. So we opened up our home again.
"I've never been more surprised. I'd never met Sydney. I saw an interview with him on our database and then when he arrived… I was expecting the complete opposite.
"(I was surprised at) how engaging he was and how embracing he was of the family and I just thought, 'Who is this kid?' – he's been a revelation."
The Tigers head into the encounter with the Giants with a 1-1 record following a win over Carlton in Round 1 and defeat to Collingwood last Thursday night.
