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Jack ready to be an unofficial leaderJON RALPH,
Herald Sun
Feb 3, 2017JACK Riewoldt says he is determined to help fill Richmond’s leadership void even if he isn’t voted into the club’s official group.
The star Richmond forward said he was “mentally fried” by the end of the 2016 season as the club played youngsters and plummeted down the ladder.
But with the departure of vice-captain Brett Deledio to GWS, Riewoldt said many players had already moved to fill the leadership gap.
Riewoldt said Richmond’s second and third-year players would need to step into forward roles.
Persistently overlooked for an official role despite some believing he was the club’s natural leader, Riewoldt said a title would not define him.
“I suppose for my role it’s always been about being a part of the leadership core of the club. Granted it hasn’t been the official leadership group,’’ he told SEN Radio.
“But I know I have got a big presence at the footy club. I am one of the oldest players and I need to set standards and I feel like I can set them high.
“If I hold myself accountable to those standards it drives the young players.
“I am not speaking about actual official leadership roles, but it's about helping them mature and turn into quality AFL players.”
Riewoldt said he was unsure why he has not been included in the leadership group led by captain Trent Cotchin.
“I got asked about it a lot last year on AFL360 and I suppose I don’t have an answer for you,’’ he said.
“I turn up at the footy club and try to make myself the best and the guys around me the best as well.
“I have enjoyed not having official duties, being able to spend more time with the young guys.
“With the forward line, a lot of our senior players have moved on and the void will be filled with guys in their second and third year.
“With Justin Leppitsch and Craig McRae and Shane Edwards, the four of us are trying to nurture this young exciting group into a forward line that can be really dangerous in the near future.”
The two-time Coleman Medallist said the club hoped Daniel Rioli, Connor Menadue, Oleg Markov, Corey Ellis and Nathan Drummond would play plenty of senior football this season.
“It (2016) was a tough season and I would be lying if I said we weren’t mentally fried at the end,’’ Riewoldt said.
“Losing footy at the highest level puts your club and yourself under media scrutiny.
“But the positives were (young players) getting games who are our future and we saw some real signs.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/jack-riewoldt-says-he-is-determined-to-help-lead-richmond-even-if-its-unofficially/news-story/0925636b3dd8ec80d0dc437c911ce203
