Rivals: The eight best Riewoldt v Riewoldt matches, rankedRiley Beveridge
afl.com.au
Jul 19, 2018 THIS season marks the first year in more than a decade that St Kilda and Richmond meet one another without both having a Riewoldt on their respective lists.
Cousins Nick and Jack battled it out 13 times since their first meeting in 2007. Their legacy is not only a string of memorable encounters but also Maddie's Match, which has become a fundraising fixture on the AFL calendar.
Ahead of Friday night's encounter between the Saints and Tigers, here are the best eight Riewoldt v Riewoldt matches, ranked.
8. Round 21, 2010
St Kilda 17.13 (115) d Richmond 14.10 (94) at DocklandsWhen the cousins clashed in late 2010, Nick's Saints were poised to go deep into the finals while Jack's Tigers languished near the bottom of the ladder. Both Riewoldts played starring roles in a surprisingly competitive match. Jack kicked seven goals to keep the Tigers alive throughout the contest, but Nick added three as the Saints got over the line. Jack's haul meant he took the plaudits in a losing side, claiming the Ian Stewart Medal for the afternoon's best player.
7. Round 2, 2013
Richmond 14.15 (99) d St Kilda 12.10 (82) at the MCGThe Tigers went 2-0 for the first time in nearly 20 years with this Friday night victory, and once again they had Jack to thank. He again kicked seven against his older cousin, this time inspiring his side's soaring win. Nick had plenty of impact on the night as the Saints battled to avoid an 0-2 start. He kicked four goals from 20 disposals to keep St Kilda in the hunt, but it wasn't enough.
6. Round 22, 2007
St Kilda 14.18 (102) d Richmond 13.14 (92) at the MCGThe Tigers were anchored to the bottom of the ladder when the Riewoldt cousins met for the first time, while St Kilda's slim hopes of qualifying for the finals had been dashed the night before. However the absence of a tangible reward didn't stop an entertaining contest from breaking out at the MCG. Nick was among the best on ground with three goals from 19 disposals, while Jack – playing in just his eighth senior game – couldn't hit the scoreboard from just six touches. The Saints came out on top, despite trailing the Tigers at three-quarter time.
5. Round 23, 2017
Richmond 19.8 (122) d St Kilda 12.9 (81) at the MCGNick's 336th and final game inevitably fell against Richmond at the MCG. It was Jack's day on the park as he kicked three goals, taking his total to 42 against Nick, while Nick's one took his tally to 26 in his 13 games against his cousin. The Tigers secured a comfortable win en route to their unlikely tilt at a drought-rupturing premiership, but much of the big crowd was there to farewell Nick. Fittingly, it was Jack who helped chair his older cousin from the field.
4. Round 16, 2015
Richmond 13.11 (89) d St Kilda 10.13 (73) at DocklandsThe pair shared an emotional embrace ahead of the first ever Maddie's Match, held to honour Nick's late sister Maddie, who had died five months earlier of Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome. Staged every season since, the match helps support those with the disease and fundraise to find a cure. Jack kicked two goals as the rising Tigers withheld a late St Kilda fightback to consolidate fifth spot on the ladder, while Nick kicked one.
3. Round 22, 2014
Richmond 15.8 (98) d St Kilda 10.12 (72) at the MCGWith seven consecutive wins under their belts, the Tigers needed an eighth to maintain their unlikely charge into the 2014 finals series. Nick was among St Kilda's best, racking up 24 disposals and kicking two goals, but it was Jack whose solo show again determined the result. He kicked six goals to earn maximum votes on Brownlow night. The result propelled the Tigers into the eight, and they would secure a remarkable finals berth with an upset win over Sydney the following week.
2. Round 7, 2008
St Kilda 17.8 (110) d Richmond 16.11 (107) at DocklandsNot all games go to plan, and the Riewoldt cousins had individually forgettable evenings while their sides played out this thriller. A third-quarter knee injury ended Nick's night, leaving Stephen Milne to step up as the hero for St Kilda, kicking seven goals. It was a night of missed opportunities for the Tigers, who hit the post twice in the final minute. Their final chance at redemption fell to Jack, who had a shot from outside 50m to win the match after the siren. It fell short, handing the Saints a nail-gnawing win.
1. Round 10, 2012
Richmond 18.13 (121) d St Kilda 16.17 (113) at DocklandsThe Riewoldt cousins turned on a spectacular show for a nearly sold-out crowd which watched the two finals contenders square off under Friday night lights. At one end, Nick almost single-handedly kept St Kilda in the contest, bagging three goals from 17 touches. At the other, Jack had 20 touches and slammed home seven goals. The Saints hit the lead late in the last quarter, only for the Tigers to rally and secure an upset win on the back of Jack's haul, which earned him another three finals votes. The margin was as close as the Riewoldts' career rivalry; Jack narrowly shading the honours with seven wins in their duels to Nick's six.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-19/rivals-the-eight-best-riewoldt-v-riewoldt-matches-ranked
