Jack Riewoldt a lad for all occasions (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Jack Riewoldt a lad for all occasions

    Mike Sheahan
    From: Herald Sun
    March 26, 2011

STAY well, Jack, Richmond needs you desperately, and so does the game.

At halftime Thursday night, the credibility of Richmond's claim to the opening night of the football season was at risk. A one-sided affair was on the cards for the third year running.

Half an hour later, all that chat was forgotten as Jack Riewoldt turned a mundane affair into an exciting football match befitting the location and timeslot.

He's a bloody ripper, Jackie Riewoldt. We know what Damien Hardwick meant when he said he didn't want Riewoldt to kick 78 goals again this year but if Jack doesn't kick 'em, who will?

Riewoldt has done more than take Matthew Richardson's position in front of goal; he has assumed the mantles of team barometer and crowd favourite.

Eddie Betts, effectively Carlton's most dangerous forward, managed three goals from his team's 69 inside 50s. Riewoldt conjured six from the Tigers' 37.

He dragged the Tigers back into the contest and to a 14-point lead at three-quarter time after three goals in the third term. He resuscitated a dying contest.

In the end, Brett Ratten had everyone other than Geoff Southby assigned to the role of neutralising Riewoldt, and Carlton powered away in the second half of the last quarter to win by 20 points.

The Blues got a major fright, but got what they wanted - the premiership points - and they will get a lot better as the season unfolds.

Bower, Henderson, Houlihan, Jamison, Kreuzer and McLean will improve this team considerably, and Waite was out of Thursday night's game before half-time.

The Tigers aren't entitled to the same level of optimism. Riewoldt aside, they were a lacklustre lot.

Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin had three possessions between them in the first quarter. Nowhere near good enough.

Cotchin lifted his rating considerably in the second half and finished with 22 disposals, but he has to work extremely hard for his kicks and doesn't have explosive pace, so important for a midfielder.

Surely, it's time Deledio became more of a playmaker. He is 24 next month, he needs to go to the midfield or forward.

Daniel Jackson was his usual energetic, aggressive self, and Nathan Foley will get better in a hurry, but there seems to be a large number of blokes either not good enough or a long way from convincing us otherwise.

If Shane Tuck doesn't deserve a place in this team, he must have a lot of dirty days I don't see.

I doubt Judd, Murphy and Gibbs would have swarmed out of the centre as often as they did in the first half had Tuck been crashing into the contest.

While he's not the future, it's not as if he would be keeping out a promising youngster.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jack-riewoldt-a-lad-for-all-occasions/story-fn7shz1t-1226028447086

[Mopsy]

He's right in what he says about Cotchin being too slow,
He's right in what he said about about Tuck
He's right in what he says about Deledio - IMO Connors should be playing a full game at half back

[peggles]

cotchin isn't actually slow by any means, i'd say he's slightly above average for a mid but certainly doesn't have the explosiveness of say a deledio or ablett.

[bojangles17]

whilst cotchin ain't alwyn davey, he's little different to how the likes of how Voss moved...it wasn't pace that held him back early, we were being smashed and had to work into the game more effectively clearing the ball from defence...whilst at least breaking even in the rucks, which worked a treat in the 3q...underestimate cotch at your peril

how quick is dane swan by the way

[Loui Tufga]

Cotchin is a hell of allot quicker that he looks, I think because of his body shape he looks a little heavy thus making him look slower than he is, ha has a hell of a leap on him too, will take mark of the year one day

[julzqld]

He's right in what he says about Cotchin being too slow,
He's right in what he said about about Tuck
He's right in what he says about Deledio - IMO Connors should be playing a full game at half back

Yep totally agree

[Infamy]

Cotchin is a hell of allot quicker that he looks, I think because of his body shape he looks a little heavy thus making him look slower than he is, ha has a hell of a leap on him too, will take mark of the year one day

Yep, from memory he had a sub 2.9 20m sprint at the start of his final U18 season

[Hard Roar Tiger]

He's right in what he says about Cotchin being too slow,
He's right in what he said about about Tuck
He's right in what he says about Deledio - IMO Connors should be playing a full game at half back

You're right in what you agree in what he says about Tuck
You're right in what you agree in what he says about Lids
Bo is right in what he says about comparing Cotchin to Swan - once he develops the capacity to run all day he will be perfectly fine. 

[Hellenic Tiger]

Cotchin is a hell of allot quicker that he looks, I think because of his body shape he looks a little heavy thus making him look slower than he is, ha has a hell of a leap on him too, will take mark of the year one day

Yep, from memory he had a sub 2.9 20m sprint at the start of his final U18 season

Maybe so Inf but he's had achilles issues since then that may have slowed him down.

All this is still speculation and opinion and for me the jury is still out on Cotch pace over the ground.

[Judge Roughneck]

How the stuff does tuck replacing helbig or batchelor not give up a spot for a young promising player?

[TigerTimeII]

cotchin slow pigs arse, he has pace , he just has so much time he looks like he is in slow motion
he is quick and as said is is gait that makes him appear slow

he had no touches in the first quarter bec he isnt chris judd, judd gets every free kick when held at stoppages, cotchin gets nothing, umpires must have got twiggles prego!  not judd

[Judge Roughneck]

Judd does indeed get more than his fair share of soft free kicks