Triple Richmond premiership star key forward Jack Riewoldt is pumped about the Tigers’ prospects next year and continuing his role as a mentor to the Club’s emerging group of young players.
Riewoldt recently signed a one-year contract extension with Richmond which will take him into a 17th AFL season in 2023.
The 326-game veteran will be a 34-year-old next season, but the Tigerland’s talented department of youth is re-energising him.
“I really feel like the group’s in a really good position to take that next step forward,” Riewoldt told Richmond Media in a post-season interview.
“I’m really excited about what the next period of time brings with some of the young kids coming through . . .
“I hope that I can impart a little bit of wisdom on to them . . .
“We’ve started seeing players like Kane Lambert, Dave Astbury, Shane Edwards, leave the football club, so now it’s becoming a sort of new generation, that generation next, which is really exciting.
“I’m still really invested into looking after and educating the younger players.
“That’s the thing I really enjoy.”
One Tiger cub Riewoldt is especially enthusiastic about is pocket rocket Maurice Rioli Jr, who played 15 games this season, kicked 14 goals and applied tremendous pressure to opposition players in his small-forward role.
“Maurice Rioli had a fantastic backend to the season,” Riewoldt said.
“When he’s played, he’s been the No. 1 pressure forward in the competition.
“He probably symbolises what our football club’s about.
“So, I’m looking forward to seeing Maurice have a full season under his belt next year.”
