Francis Jackson was a nervous man in the days leading up to the 2006 AFL national draft.

Jackson, Richmond’s Recruiting Manager at the time, knew exactly who he wanted to take with the Club’s first selection in that draft – Tasmanian teenage star key forward Jack Riewoldt.

The problem for Jackson was that the Tigers had exchanged their original first round draft pick in a deal for Fremantle’s versatile big man Graham Polak.

They had parted with pick 8 and, in return, received Polak and the Dockers’ first-round selection, which was pick 13.

Richmond remained confident Riewoldt would still be available when the time came to make its first choice at the ’06 draft table. It was, however, an anxious wait for Jackson.

He had been closely monitoring the progress of the younger cousin of St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt for quite some time and knew he was something special.

Tasmania had long been a breeding ground for star Richmond key forwards . . . first there was Royce Hart, then Michael Roach, followed by Matthew Richardson.

Jackson was strong in his belief that Jack Riewoldt possessed the potential to follow in their famous footsteps at Tigerland.

After missing the first couple of months of the 2006 season, due to a broken collarbone, Riewoldt took a huge step in his football career, answering every challenge that confronted him.

He played eight games at VFL level with the then Tasmanian Devils team, represented Tasmania in the under-18 national championships, and established himself as a senior regular at Clarence, which was the same Tassie club Richmond recruited the great Royce Hart from.

Riewoldt starred for Clarence in its upset victory over Glenorchy in the 2006 grand final, kicking a game-high four goals.

On AFL National Draft night 2006, Francis Jackson had his fingers crossed, as the names started to be called out . . . Bryce Gibbs (No. 1 to Carlton), Scott Gumbleton (No. 2 to Essendon), Lachlan Hansen (No. 3 to North Melbourne), Matthew Leuenberger (No. 5 to Brisbane), Travis Boak (No. 6 to Port Adelaide) . . . So far, so good.

When Melbourne announced James Frawley as its selection at pick 12, Jackson was both elated and relieved . . . He’d got his man.

 Jackson then, with no hesitation, loudly and clearly, read out Jack Riewoldt’s name at pick 13.

“I was very keen on Jack Riewoldt after watching him play,” Jackson said.

“The thing that was most impressive about him was his ability to understand footy and his football ‘smarts’. He actually read the ball-flight and bounce of the ball better than anyone else.

“I think the defining moment for me was a VFL game down in Tasmania, where he played against Essendon. He was just a kid, but it was a great opportunity to play against men. 

“He dominated that day, and I was very keen.

“The actual final decision (to pick Riewoldt) we made after the grand final that Jack played for Clarence against Glenorchy. 

“I remember in that grand final, the opposition captain went straight to Jack. 

“He was big and strong with ‘tatts’ all over him and tried to whack Jack. But Jack was way too smart for that and ended up kicking four (goals) for the day. 

“So, I had no doubts that he would succeed (in the AFL) because he’d played well against men.”