Richmond’s General Manager of Football Neil Balme has provided clarification of the role Tiger star Jack Riewoldt plays in the team’s forward line.

Balme was responding to talk from outside Tigerland that Riewoldt’s overall effectiveness would increase if he was used closer to goal in season 2017.

“Nowadays, there’s not that Tony Lockett-like position (at full-forward) in the game,” Balme said on Richmond’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.

“You’re a kick and a bit away from the ball wherever you are.  If it’s in the opposition’s goal-square, you’re not sitting back waiting for the ball to come . . .   

“Clearly, he’s a very good one-on-one player and an important inside-50 player . . .

“The more often you can get the ball to him, when he’s in that position, and get him kicking a lot of goals, the better off we’ll be. 

“But you don’t want to be too predictable for the opposition, either.  If that’s all he’s going to do, it’s much easier to defend. 

“It’s a matter of who does the rest of the work. 

“If you don’t have the link on the way in, it doesn’t matter how good a position he’s in inside 50 . . .”