Twenty-first birthday celebrations don't come much better than what Jacob Bauer experienced on Sunday.
In front of family and friends, in his boyhood stomping ground of western Sydney, Bauer took a strong contested mark late in the fourth and was lining up for goal as the siren sounded.
For Richmond's VFL side, prior to that point of the match, transition, marking and contest work had not been an issue - inaccuracy in front of goal though had left the result resting on Bauer's right boot.
Swung forward to create some spark in the final quarter, Bauer didn't flinch and guided the Tigers home by two points over GWS, the final score reading 10.22 (82) to 12.8 (80).
Fanfare from the senior side watching on was fleeting as their attention turned to the afternoon's game, but for the man taken just over a year ago in the mid-season draft, it was into the grandstands where the celebrations continued.
The eager supporters who arrived early for the 9.30am start were treated to a moment to savour, when Mykelti Lefau kicked a goal in his return from more than 12 months on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
From a long set-shot, Lefau showed the class that had endeared him to VFL watchers in the opening stages of his debut season last year, and his teammates responded in emotional scenes.
A two-goal Steely Green cameo then followed to open the second quarter as the Tigers went on their best goal-kicking run of the match.
A week after kicking four goals for the Glenelg Tigers, Matt Coulthard registered his first in his new Yellow and Black kit, calmly splitting the middle on the run to cap a whirlwind four-and-a-half days.
But aside from the rare highlight, the visitors were faltering in front of goal. Conversely, the Giants made the most of their limited scoring opportunities across the first three quarters to open a 14-point lead at the final change.
The weight of numbers were comfortably in the Tigers' favour in clearances, tackles and inside 50s, they just needed to keep the belief that saw them fly home and defeat Essendon in the Dreamtime match last time out, a fortnight previously.
Kaelen Bradtke and Ben Bilston-McGillen's final-term goals were quickly answered by GWS, but there was again another late Tiger surge.
On another day, Bigoa Nyuon could have had his name in lights and been right in contention for a senior recall.
After missing a shot at goal to take his day's tally to 1.7, the 22-year-old kept running and presenting as an attacking option. Lefau set him up in the goalsquare late in the match for his second major, and it was testament to his attitude that he competed in the contest which saw Bauer mark and win the day.
Skipper Lachie Street led from the front all morning, picking up a team-high 31 possessions, a game-high 10 clearances, and seven inside 50s.
The challenges keep coming for the VFL Tigers, with a home game next Sunday against Werribee who currently sit in the top four. A warning for attendees, these Tigers are not for the faint of heart.
Richmond 2.4 5.11 6.16 10.22 (82)
GWS 3.1 6.3 10.6 12.8 (80)
Goals - Nyoun 2, Green 2, Lefau, Coulthard, Bradtke, Bilston-McGillen, Bauer, Banks
