Jack Riewoldt called on all his junior, wet-weather football experience in Tasmania to slot the match-sealing goal for Richmond against West Coast at the MCG last Saturday.
The star spearhead had been a valuable contributor throughout the afternoon for the Tigers, but was goalless, until late in the last quarter, when he marked a quick kick from teammate Brandon Ellis, about 25 metres out from goal.
With Richmond holding a slender five-point lead in driving rain, and no goals having been scored up to that stage in the final term, Riewoldt stepped up like a true leader.
Thriving on the responsibility thrust upon him, he steered the heavy, slippery ball through the big sticks to, effectively, clinch victory for the Tigers.
“I played in some pretty shocking conditions down there . . . played in snow once up at New Norfolk,” Riewoldt said on ‘ABC Grandstand’.
“To be honest, it was going through my head that it was a pretty big moment for the footy club. And, as a leader of the footy club, they’re the ones that I thrive on.
“I absolutely loved that moment.
“I was really excited to be the one kicking the ball and having the shot. So, (I’m) proud of myself a little bit, actually.”