Star Richmond key forward Jack Riewoldt underlined his excellent versatility in the Tigers’ attack throughout last Saturday’s victory over Brisbane at the MCG.
Riewoldt’s continued evolution as a player has seen him spending more time up the ground, where his vast repertoire of football skills have been of significant benefit to the team.
Leading into the Round 14 clash with Brisbane, however, Riewoldt had scored just eight goals from his previous five matches, notwithstanding how valuable a contributor he’d been further afield.
But it was the Riewoldt of old, as well as new, against the Lions.
He had seven shots for goal, converted four of them, which was his equal-highest return for the 2016 season, and took a game-high 10 marks, including an immensely-impressive nine grabs inside the Tigers’ forward-50 area.
The 27-year-old veteran of 193 league games for Richmond finished with 21 disposals, including a team-high 12 contested possessions, to again be one of the team’s most influential players.
“That’s the beauty about Jack. He’s got the both areas of his game now,” Riewoldt’s Tiger teammate Shaun Grigg told 3AW yesterday (Sunday).
“He’s very fit and athletic, he can get up the ground, and he can beat his opponent back. Or he’s still that genuine full-forward/power forward . . .
“Some games he’s getting up the ground for us, getting the ball, and getting involved with score assists, score involvements. And then, flip of the coin, he can go down there (deep forward) and have his seven or eight shots on goal.
“It’s important he can switch between both.”
Mark Of The Year: Riewoldt
