Jack Riewoldt has become a tackling machine inside Richmond’s forward 50 — emblematic of the club’s new-found forward pressureApril 7, 2017
Sarah Olle
FOX SPORTSThe lesser lights of Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler have turned the Tigers’ forward line into a melting pot of pressure, precision and pizzazz.
And Richmond supporters are buzzing
Yet perhaps the most unlikely of mosquitos has been at the forefront of the club’s new-found ferocity.
Standing at 195cm, Jack Riewoldt doesn’t exactly fit the mould of a small forward. He doesn’t crumb. He creates the crumb.
Despite this, Riewoldt has renovated his own game, adhering to mosquito-like principles to make him more than just a key forward.
And it all comes down to his tackling pressure.
Indeed, no player has laid more tackles inside 50 this season than Riewoldt, which is somewhat of a juxtaposition for a full forward who has also taken the second-most marks inside 50 after two rounds.
Of his 13 tackles across the AFL’s opening fortnight, a staggering nine were made in Richmond’s forward arc.
That’s three better than the next best in Hawthorn’s Paul Puopolo, Collingwood’s Chris Mayne, West Coast’s Jamie Cripps, St Kilda’s Jack Lonie and Brisbane’s Jake Barrett.
And the two-time all-Australian has notched six more than Butler, seven more than Castagna and eight more than Rioli.
These numbers are particularly significant given Riewoldt’s track record with tackles.
Across his 204-game career, Riewoldt has only laid six tackles or more on six occasions. Two of those have come in the past fortnight.
After Richmond’s Round 1 win over Carlton — where Riewoldt equalled his career-best seven tackles — coach Damien Hardwick praised the pressure of his forwards.
“I thought our pressure up forward was outstanding and certainly lead to scores from turnovers,” Hardwick said.
“I think we kicked 11 goals from turnovers, which is a number we haven’t had for a long time.
“If we continue to get those numbers, it’s going to be a style of brand our fans, supporters, players and coaches will appreciate.”
Riewoldt’s tackling emphasis has been emblematic of Richmond’s increased pressure across the board.
In 2016, the Tigers were the worst tackling side in the competition, averaging 60.1 per game, some five less than the next worse in Essendon.
But after two rounds, they’ve averaged 73 tackles, second only to the reigning premiers, the Western Bulldogs.
It has been some turnaround. But now Richmond’s biggest challenge is sustaining that pressure.
And there will be no bigger test than West Coast this weekend.
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