Triple Richmond premiership star key forward Jack Riewoldt parlayed a strong pre-season preparation into a superb showing in last night’s season-opener against Carlton at the MCG.

It was vintage Riewoldt, as he competed hard right throughout the match, led out to the ball with conviction, marked surely, and kicked truly.

He steered through a game-high four goals from his 10 disposals, had eight score involvements all-up, 349 metres gained, took four marks and, especially noteworthy, applied a game-high five tackles.

This was the fifth time in the past decade that Riewoldt has booted four goals or more in a Round 1 clash with the Blues. He previously scored six goals in 2011, four in 2012, four in 2015 and four in 2018.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick paid tribute to Riewoldt during his post-match press conference.

“He had a fantastic pre-season,” Hardwick said.

“He’s moving as well as he’s moved for a number of years . . . Looks fresh, looks reinvigorated, and I thought his form tonight was first class.”

Riewoldt has now moved past Tiger great Matthew Richardson and into sixth place on the Club’s all-time games list. He has played 283 games for Richmond, with only Jack Titus (294), Wayne Campbell (297), Francis Bourke (300), Jack Dyer (312) and Kevin Bartlett (403) ahead of him.