Medal punters jump on Jack Riewoldt * Jon Ralph and Jackie Epstein
* Herald Sun
* July 12, 2010RICHMOND spearhead Jack Riewoldt will this morning become the odds-on favourite to win the Coleman Medal.
Riewoldt's staggering recent goal haul has TAB Sportsbet set to turn him in from last week's $2 quote, with the 21-year-old clear top of the goalkicking table with 58 majors.
He was $501 after Round 8, but his form explosion means he is on track for a 95-goal season.
Riewoldt's seven-match stretch of 43 goals brings back memories of Brian Taylor's 41 goals for the Tigers in seven games in 1984.
Yesterday, Taylor said the Tiger army was officially on the march after Richmond's win against Fremantle gave the Tigers four consecutive victories for the first time since 2005.
"It's incredible. I have been there in a successful period between the late 1970s and early 1980s and it's truly remarkable to wake that big beast up, because it will set the AFL alight," he said.
"It's the next big team we need to fire. We have seen Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood have their opportunities, but to add that extra dimension of angriness, we need to see Richmond supporters going off."
TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies said Riewoldt continued to shorten as James Podsiadly, Steve Johnson and Matthew Pavlich fell off the pace.
"It's becoming a two-horse race between him and Barry Hall now. The fact they have cleared out means he has come from $2 into odds-on," Davies said.
"It is staggering because as late as Round 8 we had him at 500-1. With their draw coming up, there is nothing to say he won't continue to kick four or five goals a game, and that will win him the Coleman Medal."
Taylor yesterday urged some restraint in judging Riewoldt.
"I hope it's sustainable. I have got a question mark about whether it is because five weeks ago we said he was the No. 2 or 3 forward, and all of a sudden we are thinking he's the next (Michael) 'Disco' Roach," he said. "We shouldn't set our expectations too high."
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