‘He’s a better leader than Cotchin’Herald-Sun
February 28, 2016JACK Riewoldt should be captaining the Tigers, says North Melbourne champion David King.
The electrifying Tiger was back to his best against Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon, as he continues to grow as a leader both on and off the field for Richmond.
Riewoldt set the tone in the opening half and his teammates followed. At the main break, the Tigers were 27-point leaders and Riewoldt had collected 11 disposals, eight marks and two goals, including a booming supergoal from beyond 55 metres.
His form was so impressive it led Fox Footy commentator David King to suggest Riewoldt could be Richmond’s next leader.
“He could captain Richmond,” King said.
“In my eyes he’s a better leader than Cotchin. He hasn’t stopped working.
“And when a leader does this in a preseason game, it sets the standards for players around him.”
Since 2010, Riewoldt has kicked more than 50 goals every season, making him one of the most consistently dangerous forwards in the competition.
His talent has never been in question, however, the same hasn’t always been said about his attitude.
Demonstrative on the field, Riewoldt has polarised the football world with his heart-on-his-sleeve gestures to teammates, which are often mistaken for contempt. His fiery reputation was only reinforced when he ran away from reporters in 2014.
But in a sign that the 180-game veteran has matured, Riewoldt shied away from speaking about his own commanding performance after the match, instead talking about the exciting talent at the club.
“Daniel Rioli has been fantastic,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy.
“Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert, our small guys, it’s just infectious, that kind of stuff.
“Our mids were fantastic around the ball ... and our skipper was great as well.”
Riewoldt hasn’t been in Richmond’s leadership group since 2013. And he won’t be featuring any time soon either.
Along with captain Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance, Shane Edwards, Ivan Maric and Brett Deledio make up the fabric of the club’s leadership group, making King’s call to anoint Riewoldt as Cotchin’s heir apparent all the more surprising.
But Riewoldt is a leader, regardless of title. As much as he polarises, he inspires. And on Saturday he willed his teammates to go with him with six first quarter marks, several of which he plucked out of packs.
As Fox Footy commentator Alastair Lynch said: “He’s putting on a clinic. He’s doing everything: tackling, getting up the ground, kicking them from outside 50.”
While there’s certainly no framework or set or rules to follow regarding leadership, the most respected AFL captains all have one thing in common, that they lead by example.
When a game is in the balance, Luke Hodge takes it upon himself to move into the midfield and get first hands on the ball for Hawthorn.
In big games, it’s Hodge who invariably stands up.
Yet in the Tigers’ biggest match last year — their elimination final against North Melbourne — it was Richmond captain Trent Cotchin who went missing.
He couldn’t escape the chafing tag of Ben Jacobs, his nine disposals making minimal impact on the game.
Riewoldt, conversely, kicked three goals in an inspired second quarter and finished the day with four majors.
One game does not make a captain or a player. But this was more than just a game for the Tigers, who have failed to win a final since 2001.
He may not be Richmond’s official leader, but no player bleeds yellow and black more than Riewoldt. And perhaps he is the right man to get the club back in the winner’s books come September.
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