Damien Hardwick's radical plan for Jack Riewoldt Glenn McFarlane
Herald Sun
March 10, 2011 RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick wants Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt to kick fewer goals this year.
Hardwick said the club needed to find more goalkickers, not more goals from its spearhead, to push the Tigers towards their first finals in 10 years.
Speaking ahead of Riewoldt's return to football tomorrow, Hardwick also said he would push the 22-year-old All-Australian further up the field this year.
"Jack is a terrific player, but we know we can't afford for him to be kicking 78 goals a year," Hardwick said.
If we keep that somewhere between 50 and 60 goals, and a Ty Vickery stands up, or another player kicks 20 or 30, we'll be happy with that. That's the sort of spread of goals you want. If you look at (recent) premiership sides, it will tell you a spread of goalkickers is the best way to go about it.
"If you rely on one player, you are not going to make it through a successful finals campaign."
Riewoldt's 78 goals last year comprised 32 per cent of the Tigers' 246 goals.
It was the highest individual percentage for the club since Jack "Skinny" Titus booted 87 goals, at 34 per cent, in 1941.
Second on the Richmond goalkicking list last year was Andrew Collins, who has since transferred to Carlton, with 15 goals.
In contrast to Riewoldt's domination, premier Collingwood shared the goals about, with club leading goalkicker Alan Didak booting 41 goals at 10 per cent.
Hardwick said Riewoldt was more likely to play out at centre half-forward than deep in attack, making use of the extra speed and fitness he has gained going into his fifth season.
"Jack will still be in the forward 50, but we will be looking for him to play more around centre half-forward or mid-point," he said.
Riewoldt, who has overcome a finger injury and a jarred knee in the pre-season, will play his first competitive game of 2011 against Adelaide at Visy Park.
He said he hoped that Riewoldt and 200cm Ty Vickery could develop a two-pronged forward line relationship akin to Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.
Vickery kicked five goals two weeks ago against Port Adelaide, and two last week against Hawthorn.
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