Riewoldt, Tigers can benefit from tradeJAY CLARK
Herald Sun
21 August 2016JACK Riewoldt must be hurting.
On Saturday’s woeful Richmond performance, the star goalkicker looks as frustrated as anyone with the Tigers’ decline this season.
In 201 games and 10 seasons, the dual Coleman Medal winner has not played in a single winning final. Somehow, he is not even in the club’s leadership group.
Almost 28, he must be wondering what the future holds for the Tigers over the next two seasons and whether he would be better off at another club.
If Richmond is more of a chance to finish bottom-four than top-four over the next year or two, he must seriously consider a trade move.
As recently as June last year, Riewoldt signed a contract extension, tying him to the Tigers until the end of 2019.
Clearly, he is as passionate about the yellow and black as anyone.
He loves the club. Bleeds for the club. You could not question his commitment — until now.
The Tigers’ ball movement is slow and stodgy and their tackling pressure was abysmal again against St Kilda.
Their 44 tackles was their worst effort of the season.
Riewoldt had nine possessions, five marks and one goal.
As champion Richmond forward Matthew Richardson tweeted yesterday: “Am yet to meet a forward in AFL footy that doesn’t want quick ball movement.”
If free agent Tyrone Vickery leaves Punt Rd as a free agent at season’s end, as expected, how will Riewoldt feel about holding up the forward line on his own?
Almost every club would love to have the dual All-Australian.
Hawthorn is chasing a key forward. Collingwood would plonk him in the square. St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt would do backflips to land his cousin.
Bet your bottom dollar these clubs would be asking the question.
But it would have to be a premiership contender to nab him.
Riewoldt would only leave the Tigers to finish top-four somewhere and chase a premiership, much like ex-Demon James Frawley did when he joined the Hawks.
And, on Grand Final day last year, we all lauded Frawley for his brave exit.
Brett Deledio’s name comes up every week as Richmond trade bait, yet for some reason Riewoldt has flown under the radar.
These days, the significance of a contract is up for debate.
Dayne Beams shocked Collingwood when he left while under contract. Ryan Griffen was captain when he walked out on the Bulldogs. Tom Boyd had a deal at the Giants.
Yet they all went.
There’s no way Richmond could hold Riewoldt to his contract against his will. Rather, it could trade him for, say, two top-20 draft picks.
Swapping pick No.6 for Dion Prestia wouldn’t be enough to accelerate its rebuild.
The club needs to be brave. And Riewoldt needs to think about September success. Otherwise, his career might pass by without it.
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