Jack Riewoldt says he'll play v PortRoger Vaughan
May 24, 2011 - 6:19PM
AAPAFL Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt declared himself a certain starter for Richmond's big AFL match against Port Adelaide, despite some leg tightness.
Riewoldt and soccer star Archie Thompson were supposed to have a goalkicking competition at Punt Road as a media promotion for Thursday's group one Sandown Cup greyhounds race.
But when Riewoldt turned up wearing thongs and jeans and Richmond called off the goalkicking, and an official from outside the club let slip the Tigers spearhead had a tight calf, eyebrows were raised.
"It's nothing for me, really, it's just an off day with the legs," Riewoldt said.
"We played on Saturday night and generally 72 hours after the game, you're still not getting out and having a kick around.
"As a group, we're trying to keep things low key and obviously trying to prepare for Darwin as best we can."
Riewoldt is yet to show the peak form that took him to last year's Coleman Medal as the top AFL goalkicker, but he still leads the competition.
He has kicked four goals in each of the last three games and is on 33 for the season, one ahead of Hawthorn's Lance Franklin.
It is a sign that coach Damien Hardwick's plan to put less emphasis on Riewoldt in the forward line this season is working.
The improving Tigers sit just outside the top eight and they have not needed Riewoldt to fire to ensure a win.
"I've been struggling a little bit over the last three or four weeks, but we've been winning games and all our best players probably haven't been playing right up to their best standard," Riewoldt said.
"We've a lot of potential ... but we know our game plan is solid at the moment.
"We still have a lot of things we can work on."
Even though Port are bottom with one win, they play in Darwin at least once per season and might have an advantage.
Riewoldt said the Tigers are specifically preparing for the hot and humid conditions.
"Heading to Darwin this weekend, which isobviously a big day for us, and then the bye after that, we're just monitoring our bodies," he said.
"(We're) going into what's going to be a bit of an unusual climate for us ... 26-27 degrees with a high humidity.
"At the moment the boys are in the heat chamber, doing a bit of bike."
Riewoldt also apologised again for his Twitter mistake on Monday, when he revealed a day ahead of schedule that team-mate Reece Conca was the week's Rising Star nominee.
He joked team-mate Daniel Jackson had explained to him the meaning of the word "embargo".
Riewoldt made it clear he will think twice before there are any more Jacki-leaks.
"I feel a bit like Julian Assange at the moment, I'm copping it from everyone," he said.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/jack-riewoldt-says-hell-play-v-port-20110524-1f29b.html
