Jack jumps into stratosphereAdam Smith
The Mercury
September 08, 2010 EVEN for someone oozing the confidence of Jack Riewoldt, season 2010 far exceeded the expectations of Richmond's newest star.
In his fourth year at Punt Rd and his first without former superstar and fellow Tasmanian Matthew Richardson, a lot was left on the shoulders of a young man who many hoped could fill the shoes, but also believed might still be a few years away from peaking.
Richmond was favourite for the wooden spoon, and after nine rounds the Tigers were playing so badly they were being compared to the late Fitzroy of the mid-1990s.
Then something clicked for both Riewoldt and the club.
A breakthrough win against Port Adelaide at a drenched AAMI stadium gave rookie coach Damien Hardwick and a host of first year players their maiden wins.
Suddenly a newfound confidence was discovered, and a fortnight later Riewoldt booted 10.3 against a hapless West Coast at the MCG -- the first 10-goal haul in the AFL since Jonathan Brown snagged 10.1 against Carlton in 2007.
By the final round of roster matches, the 21-year-old had signed a new three-year deal believed to be between $500,000 and $550,000 a season, including incentive clauses, and he became the youngest player in AFL history to win the Coleman Medal.
He finished with 78 goals for the year. In 2009 he kicked 32 in 20 games.
Capping a stunning break-out campaign, last week Riewoldt was awarded the Jack Dyer Medal.
It was the first time in Tigers' history a player had claimed the club best and fairest and the AFL leading goalkicker award in the same season.
"It's slowly sinking in, after doing all the media stuff," Riewoldt told the Mercury of his whirlwind week.
"It's a great personal achievement but obviously the game is not about individual awards I would quite happily trade it in for more success as a team.
"If you go into a season thinking about trying to win individual awards ... it distracts a little bit from the team game.
"The main focus for me was to try and play well for the team and that will be the same focus for next year.
"I have done things I never would have expected in my wildest dreams. It's credit not only to the hard work I've done but a lot of the hard work the coaching staff have done with me.
"They worked out where my best position was and how to best play my opponent.
"These sort of awards are great to win but there are a lot of people behind the scenes who do a lot of hard work and have a lot of input."
Riewoldt edged out Richmond skipper Chris Newman for the Jack Dyer Medal, thanks largely to a mid-season purple patch of form.
Between rounds eight and 15 he kicked 43 goals the highest individual total in a consecutive eight-game period by an AFL player since Essendon's Matthew Lloyd in 2001.
The star forward also came in on top at the club for total marks (123), was No. 1 for contested marks (54) and No. 1 for marks inside-50 (79).
But now, after emerging from the shadow of Richardson to arguably be the club's newest cult figure, it is back to business for the fast-maturing sharp shooter.
Riewoldt knows that regardless of individual success, the team always has to come first.
"All we want to do is become a better team, learn more things we can put in place," he said.
"We have got the inner belief and we have got the guys who are signing new contracts and staying around.
"We have something special and it's great for the Richmond fans and great for the faithful who have been starved for success since 1980 really.
"Hopefully this group can take us forward to the next one [premiership].
"I will not try to eclipse what I have achieved this year, I'm just going to try and build to improve myself because I know I have a lot to learn in the football game.
"I can become a lot fitter and a lot stronger, I can become more professional."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/09/08/171585_afl.html
