Jack Riewoldt training at Punt Road.
Photo: Michael Clayton-JonesRiewoldt knocking on Terry's door
Lyall Johnson | May 16, 2007
The Age
RICHMOND'S first-round draft pick Jack Riewoldt looks likely to make his debut this week, after a number of Tigers failed to make an impact in the 40-point loss to Port Adelaide, not to mention the 157-point loss to Geelong in round six.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace yesterday described Riewoldt as "ready" to play, saying the 18-year-old, 192-centimetre forward was an emergency last week and made the trip to Adelaide to give him a taste of going away with the team.
"Very, very close," Wallace said. "It will obviously just be how we want to balance out our side, what the weather looks like doing and working out that sort of thing. He gets to win both ways this weekend, he either plays his first senior game or he goes back to Tassie to play back at home."
If keenness alone were the criterion for selection, Riewoldt would be among the first selected. "He's ready, it just when we're ready to have him in now. He knocks on the door four times a day and asks whether it is this week. He's even offered himself as a ruckman to help us out there.
"I wouldn't say that he resembles his cousin (St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt), really, he's a first-round draft selection and I think most people get excited about their young top-level draft picks put on display, and we're no different … He's a good package. He's a competitor, he likes to get out there and play, he's a natural footballer in the essence of it."
Riewoldt has been performing well in the VFL, punctuating his performances with some spectacular grabs and two five-goal hauls.
With Matthew Richardson likely to have ruck duties in the absence of Troy Simmonds, it could be the ideal time to give him his shot.
Teammate Cam Howat painted Riewoldt as a bit of a lad who was developing well as a footballer, talked "too much" and was well liked. "Jack's his own sort of man, he doesn't really need too much advice, he's just (a) go out and get the footy (type)," Howat said.
"He's a pretty enthusiastic young kid, goes for his marks, he's taken some beauties down in the VFL that I've seen. I reckon he'll really add something to our forward line. He's pretty noisy and bubbly around the place, he's always up and about and he probably talks too much sometimes. But he's a really nice guy and all the boys get along with him."
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