First there was Royce Hart, then Michael Roach, followed by Matthew Richardson and, now, it’s Jack Riewoldt’s turn to thrill the Tiger Army with his dazzling exploits up forward.
From Clarence, the same Tassie club that the great Royce Hart was recruited from, Riewoldt has already achieved plenty in just five full seasons of AFL football, after being snapped up by the Tigers at pick 13 in the 2006 National Draft.
He debuted for Richmond in the Round 9, 2007 Dreamtime clash with Essendon, but it wasn’t until the following season that he established himself as a regular senior member.
A solid return of 18 goals in 18 games during the ’08 season was followed by further steady progress in 2009, with 32 goals in 20 appearances.
Then, in Damien Hardwick’s first year as coach, in 2010, Riewoldt produced a stunning breakout season at full-forward for the Tigers.
He kicked 78 goals to become the first Richmond player since Michael Roach to win the Coleman Medal, as the competition’s leading goalkicker for the home-and-away season.
Such was Riewoldt’s influence that year, he also took out the Jack Dyer Medal, as the Tigers’ Best and Fairest winner, and won selection in the All-Australian side.
At one stage during that season, Riewoldt booted 43 goals in a stunning eight-game burst, including a magnificent, career-high 10-goal blitz against the West Coast Eagles at the MCG.
With his spectacular high marking, clever ground-level work, and accurate kicking, Riewoldt was an unstoppable force.
Although Riewoldt hasn’t quite reached those heights in the two seasons since then, his results have still been pretty impressive.
With 62 goals in 22 games in season 2011, Riewoldt won his second successive Michael Roach Medal (as Richmond’s leading goalkicker), and he backed that up in 2012 with a third Roach Medal, and a second Coleman Medal, following his 65-goal return.
He joined Roach as the only Richmond players in Tigerland history to top the competition’s goalkicking table twice.
Along the way, he also moved past former Tigers Billy Wilson and Neil Balme, into 13th place on the Club’s all-time goalkicking list.
At just 24, Riewoldt is poised to rewrite the record books at Richmond many more times before his league career is over.
Jack Riewoldt profile
Born: 31/10/1988
Height: 194cm
Weight: 93kg
Draft history: Taken by the Tigers at pick 13 overall in the 2006 National Draft
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 8
Debut for Richmond: Round 9, 2007 v Essendon, MCG
Games for Richmond (2007-2012): 112
Goals: 262
Honors at Richmond: Jack Dyer Medal winner in 2010; dual Coleman Medal winner (2010, 2012); triple Michael Roach Medal winner (2010-2012); All-Australian representative in 2010
