SHOCK Richmond debutant Sydney Stack reminds his coach Damien Hardwick – who the teenager briefly lived with – of his 2004 premiership teammate Byron Pickett.
That bold comparison to the dual flag-winning former Kangaroo, Demon and Power hardman was part of Hardwick's glowing reference of Stack's on- and off-field qualities to AFL.com.au on season’s eve.
The Tigers sprung a selection surprise on Thursday night by naming Stack, who turns 19 in April, for their round three clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
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He was considered one of Western Australia's most talented prospects last year, but was overlooked in the national and rookie drafts.
Stack missed the first round of the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships after failing to meet training standards, but was so impressive thereafter that he earned All Australian honours.
The Tigers subsequently applied for him to train with them over summer under the new pre-season supplemental selection period guidelines before officially signing him in mid-February.
Stack spent that period living with Hardwick, who previously invited Daniel Rioli to stay at his home after the Tiwi Islander joined the club as a first-round pick in 2015, and is now with a host family.
"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 told AFL.com.au.
"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."
Sydney Stack was overlooked in the drafts despite impressing in the under-18s. Picture: AFL Photos
At the time of Hardwick's comments in March, he also mentioned he would be surprised if Stack didn't make his AFL debut this year.
It hasn't taken long for that prediction to come true.
"He's an incredible athlete. He's got some work to do on his tank, but he's hard, he's tough, he uses the ball well, he's courageous," Hardwick said of Stack.
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"I played with a guy, Byron Pickett, and he reminds me a little bit of him. 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."
Hardwick praised the AFL's introduction of the SSP, which saw 15 players find an AFL club, and said Stack was a great example of why the system was required.
