Riewoldt, who booted a season-high six goals against the Hawks, will reach the 100-game milestone in Friday night’s Blockbuster Round 10 clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Roach believes that with Riewoldt’s confidence levels again on the rise, he’ll be a handful for any opposition to counter.
“We haven’t seen the best of him yet this season, but he’s still second on the competition’s goalkicking, which is a really good sign,” Roach said.
“After a relatively slow start to the season, I reckon he’ll just get better and better from here on.
“When his confidence is up, as it was last Saturday, he’s a superb mark and a beautiful kick for goal. He’s a very accurate shot.”
Roach, who kicked 607 goals for Richmond in 200 games from 1977-89, and is one of only two Tiger players to kick 100 goals in a season (112 in the 1980 premiership year), is a big Riewoldt fan.
“Jack’s been terrific . . . a great pick-up for the Club. He’s a 10-15-year player and somebody to build a forward line around,” Roach said.
“I think people sometimes lose sight of the fact he’s still only 23 years of age.
“Despite what he’s already achieved at the game’s highest level, there is an enormous upside with him.
“He’s a very smart player, who reads the play extremely well and doesn’t have to rely purely on his marking to kick goals.”
Riewoldt, who won the Jack Dyer Medal following a stellar 2010 season, has kicked 220 goals in his 99 games of league football. He is currently second in the Coleman Medal, with 23 goals from nine games.
