In the 20th of a special richmondfc.com.au nostalgic series celebrating Richmond’s 50 years at home at the MCG, Tony Greenberg rewinds to the day Jack Riewoldt embarked on a goalkicking spree against the Eagles.
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Jack Riewoldt was in a rich vein of form going into Richmond’s match against West Coast at the MCG in Round 12 of the 2010 season.
Riewoldt had kicked 20 goals in his previous four games – four v Hawthorn in Round 8, six v Essendon in Round 9, four v Port Adelaide in Round 10, and six v St Kilda in Round 11.
That four-goal haul against the Power, in soaking rain at AAMI Stadium, was a major factor in the Tigers recording a decisive 47-point win – their first success under Damien Hardwick’s coaching guidance. Riewoldt, in fact, scored more goals that day than Port did for the entire match (it finished with 3.12).
Richmond then produced a competitive performance against eventual Grand Finalist that year, St Kilda, at Etihad Stadium, going down by 38 points in the end, with Riewoldt booting an equal-career high six goals.
The Tigers were last on the ladder, but had been buoyed by their improved recent showings and Riewoldt’s exciting goalkicking exploits.
As a result, they really fancied their chances against the travelling West Coast outfit at the ‘G’ in Round 12.
The Eagles were 14th on the ladder, with just a couple more wins than Richmond to that stage of the season.
All Tiger eyes were on Riewoldt as the two teams lined up to do battle – and he more than lived up to expectations.
Before the midway mark of the opening quarter, ‘Jumping Jack’ had four goals on the board.
He was running rings around inexperienced Eagle full-back Eric Mackenzie (now regarded as one of the competition’s premier key defenders) and causing huge problems for the visitors.
Three of those four goals came from contested marks on Mackenzie, who was then shifted off him and replaced by Will Schofield.
Riewoldt, however, continued on his merry way . . .
Late in the first term, he pulled down another mark and steered through his fifth goal.
The Tigers held a 22-point lead at quarter-time and, although Riewoldt was a bit quieter in the second term, adding just one more goal to his tally, from another contested mark, they increased their advantage to 48 points at the main break.
West Coast mounted an early fightback in the third quarter, before Richmond steadied.
Riewoldt’s goal from a free kick late in the quarter was his seventh – a league career-high return for him.
Richmond’s lead had blown out to 59 points at the final change and the only real interest in the match was whether Riewoldt could finish with 10 goals.
He chalked up his eighth goal with a clever piece of crumbing, and No. 9 followed via a free kick from an off-the-ball infringement at a throw-in.
Then, with just three minutes left on the clock, Riewoldt took another strong, contested mark in the forward pocket.
He coolly slotted it through the big sticks for his 10th goal and then acknowledged the rapturous support of the Tiger Army at the Punt Road end of the ground.
Thanks to Riewoldt’s dynamic display, Richmond disposed of West Coast by 49 points, to register its second win of the 2010 season.
Here’s how ‘The Age’ reported Riewoldt running rings around the Eagles.
“A 10-goal haul to Richmond's exciting young key forward Jack Riewoldt has delivered the bottom-placed Tigers a 19.12 (126) to 11.11 (77) win over West Coast as the Eagles sink to a new low in season 2010.
It was the first 10-goal haul for the Tigers since retired club great Matthew Richardson's effort against the Western Bulldogs six years ago.
The victory was just Richmond's second for the season, but they have both come in the space of three rounds, after they downed Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium 15 days ago.
It was set up by a blistering first quarter, with Riewoldt kicking five goals in the first 20 minutes of the match, four of them coming from contested marks.
It included an explosive burst of four goals in five-and-a-half minutes to Riewoldt before the Eagles had scored.
The 21-year-old's haul took him to an AFL-best 45 for the season so far, including 30 goals during a brilliant patch of form over the past five rounds.
The key forward was helped by the absence of injured Eagles skipper Darren Glass.
He completely outclassed Eric Mackenzie to kick his first four goals, before Will Schofield was shifted on to him and did a better job, although Riewoldt's class still shone out.
He kicked the 10th deep in the final term, after taking a brilliant one-hander against Schofield in the forward pocket to the delight of the Richmond crowd.
First-year midfielder Dustin Martin also had a huge hand in the Tigers' fast start, gathering 14 disposals in the first quarter to ensure Riewoldt had the quick and frequent supply he needed.
The Tigers continued to surge ahead through the middle stages of the game, at one stage stretching their lead to 65 points late in the third quarter.
Dual best and fairest Brett Deledio was also excellent for Richmond running off half-back, while Shane Tuck and Trent Cotchin were good in the midfield.
For the Eagles, midfielder Matt Priddis battled hard and Dean Cox won the ruck battles, while Mark LeCras worked hard for three goals.”
Match details
Richmond 6.1 11.5 16.11 19.12 (126)
West Coast 2.3 3.5 7.6 11.11 (77)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 10, Nason 3, Martin 2, Collins, Farmer, White, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Deledio 26, Tuck 25, Jackson 23, Cotchin 20, Edwards, 20, Martin 20.
Crowd: 30,870.
