Jack Riewoldt's rise to irritate Hawks Brett Stubbs
Herald Sun
June 15, 2010.IMAGINE a Hawthorn forward line containing Lance "Buddy" Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and new Coleman Medal leader Jack Riewoldt.
Leading into the 2006 draft, the Hawks were advised to select Riewoldt with their No. 6 pick, but instead went with Riewoldt's Tassie Mariners' teammate Mitch Thorp, who played just two games in three injury-riddled seasons for Hawthorn before being cut last year.
Adelaide Crows recruiting officer Hamish Ogilvie was coach of both Riewoldt and Thorp at the Mariners in 2006 as the national draft drew nearer.
"I always thought he would be a very good player and I thought he was deserving of a first round pick," Ogilvie said of Riewoldt who booted 10 goals for Richmond on Sunday.
"You could have made the case that he deserved to be a bit higher than (pick) 13, I thought he was a top 10 pick in that draft.
"The comparisons were always Thorp-Riewoldt, who would you take? I don't want to pop Mitch because things haven't worked out for him, but I can remember saying to Hawthorn, 'Riewoldt clearly for me'."
Ogilvie worked closely with Riewoldt since the Tigers key forward was just 13, seeing his progression from raw, talented junior to AFL star with 45 goals to his name in the last-placed side in the competition at only 21-years-old.
The Tigers recruiting department have always been vilified for overlooking Hawk star Franklin in the 2004 draft, but it now appears that in 2006 the boot was on the other foot.
Ogilvie said the initial pre-conception Riewoldt was arrogant was an incorrect one.
"He is not over confident, I tell people this all the time," he said.
"He is enthusiastic and people misconstrue enthusiasm and his bubbly personality for over confidence. He is far from over confident.
"He is bubbly, outgoing, loud personality. He just loves playing and training, he is so enthusiastic whether it was training with Clarence under-16s or at the highest level.
"He was a leader, but he was probably a bit too over exuberant. He knew the answer to every question in a team meeting and wanted to answer it but he had to understand he had to let some of the other kids have a go at answering questions too."
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said Riewoldt could handle the new found attention.
"Jack is the sort of guy who is a young kid at 21 but he is pretty worldly. He's been around footy a long time, he's been brought up in a footy family," Gale said.
"He's got a very full personality and sometimes you've got to let those guys go a bit. There will be a bit of attention on Jack as there has been the last few weeks but he's the sort of guy who handles it pretty well.
"The good thing about Jack is as exciting as he's been, probably more exciting for us is probably his commitment to the team.
"He is leading the Coleman at this stage, but as of last week he was the leading tackler inside 50 in the competition."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jack-riewoldts-rise-to-irritate-hawks/story-e6frf9jf-1225879654642
