Pickett lights up the Power
If the Brownlow Medal is the midfielders' prize, then the Norm Smith Medal is fast becoming the AFL's honour for indigenous match-winners.
Port Adelaide's Byron Pickett today became the sixth Aboriginal winner of the award in 26 years as the best player in the grand final, with a scintillating 20-possession game in the Power's 40-point win over Brisbane at the MCG.
And if Pickett hadn't won the prize, then either one of his indigenous teammates Gavin Wanganeen (four goals) or Peter Burgoyne (25 disposals) would have.
The trio vowed to make a stand in the biggest game of the year after all were quiet in last week's preliminary final win over St Kilda.
Today they were magnificent.
Pickett's scything runs and three goals cut Brisbane to pieces and Lions coach Leigh Matthews noted the Port star's four-bounce run and pass to Warren Tredrea in the final quarter as symbolic of the way the Power ran the game out.
"Our scouting report last week on Byron was that after 10 minutes he was exhausted and had to be taken off," Matthews said.
"He's turned in an absolute burster today, he was fantastic.
"Byron Pickett has that capability, if he gets 20 possessions, you know you're going to be in trouble because he's such a dynamic player."
Pickett, who said this premiership was sweeter than his 1999 win with the Kangaroos because it was Port's first, built his game around his lightning speed.
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