Richmond’s star spearhead, Jack Riewoldt, is being touted as a major key to the outcome of the upcoming International Rules series between Australia and Ireland.

Riewoldt, who is representing Australia for the first time in the hybrid game, caught the eye of London’s ‘Daily Mail’ sports writer, Joe Callaghan, in his preview of the two-Test series, which starts in Ireland this weekend.

Under the heading:  “Wizards of Oz:  Stars to watch in this series”, Callaghan described ‘Jumping Jack’ as “the potential matchwinner”.

“Just 21 and truly lethal.  The younger cousin of St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt, he easily claimed the Coleman Medal for 2010 with an astonishing 78 goals in 22 games.  At 6ft 4in, he demands attention from the Irish defence,” he wrote.

Riewoldt’s soccer background should hold him in good stead for the challenge of the International Rules series.  He played soccer as a youngster, and was pretty good at it, too, winning a best and fairest award in an under-10s competition back in Tasmania - the only sporting best and fairest he’d claimed up until this year’s Jack Dyer Medal success with the Tigers.

Included among his 78 goals in the 2010 season were some ‘soccer specials’, where he used his ability to read the play, and expertise at ground level, to create something out of nothing.

Riewoldt has been honing his goalkicking skills with the round ball at Australia’s training sessions, in preparation for the first Test against Ireland, paying particular attention to net conversions, which are worth six points, compared to three-pointers for shots that go over the cross-bar.

2010 International Rules Series (Melbourne broadcast time listed below)
First Test - Sunday Oct 24, 10am AEDT (Channel 7 - five hour delay)