Richmond lose to Sydney by 113 points, Jack Riewoldt says loss summed up Tigers’ 2016 AFL seasonBen Waterworth
Foxsports
31 August 2016STAR forward Jack Riewoldt has opened up on Richmond’s “soul-destroying” loss to Sydney, saying the eerie post-match feeling summed up the club’s 2016 campaign.
The Tigers went down to the Swans by a whopping 113 points at the SCG, with Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall describing Damien Hardwick’s men as “witches’ hats”.
The belting capped off a “season from hell”, according to Riewoldt, with the Tigers finishing 13th on the ladder with an 8-14 record. Their average losing margin was 44.4 points — the fifth-largest in the competition.
Asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 to describe the post-match mood, Riewoldt compared the feeling of the match to the closing stages of a losing final.
“It was tough to play in, it was embarrassing from the club, from the guys,” Riewoldt said.
“I suppose it was a bit of an eerie feeling (after the game). To be honest, the feeling summed up the season for us. It was just bitterly disappointing, embarrassing.
“I think there’s a lot of cumulating factors there that all boiled into one performance where we were comprehensively outplayed by an exceptional side, an older side, a more skilled side that finished on top and won the minor premiership.”
Riewoldt admitted most of the players that represented the club on Saturday night weren’t ready for senior level footy, but said the club had no choice but to name them and trial them.
“They’ll be better for the experience,” Riewoldt said.
“It wasn’t a great one, but they’ve been there and seen what AFL footy is all about and how it all cumulates into game day.
“But it’s a pretty soul-destroying performance for the players, for the fans and for the club and the fans.
“It was a pretty sour way to finish the whole season and it’ll sit in the gut for a long time for the players.”
Riewoldt reiterated his wish to remain at the Tigers, despite reports and opinions that he wants out of Punt Road.
“Some of the performances have been really hard and they would test the strongest player at the footy club, but I’ve continued to stay strong and continued to love playing for the Tiges,” Riewoldt said.
“I want us to get better sooner and I think I can help with that.”
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