All Jack Riewoldt wants is a flag * Jon Ralph
* From: Herald Sun
* August 29, 2010 8:30PMCOLEMAN medallist Jack Riewoldt says individual awards will mean nothing to him if he finishes his career without premiership success.
Riewoldt kicked three goals in Richmond's Round 22 loss to finish on 78 for the year, five clear of Bulldog Barry Hall.
It was a breakout year in every way for Riewoldt, but after another bottom-two finish for the Tigers, he is clearly far from satisfied.
Instead of basking in the glow of one of the league's most coveted awards, he was frustrated to let down departing teammate Ben Cousins.
"It was disappointing. It's the only word to sum it up. It was disappointing we couldn't send one of the greatest players ever to play football out on a high note," he said.
Riewoldt said the example of Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch showed individual awards were quickly forgotten.
"It's a team sport, so the Brownlow and the Coleman and the MVP, those awards are great for players to win, but it's the guys who look back on premierships, I reckon. Justin Leppitsch won three premierships and no one knows if he won any individual awards.
"The bigger picture for us is premiership success. If we can get individual awards that's a bonus, but it's the last thing we are thinking about."
Riewoldt said the nucleus of Richmond's next premiership side was on the ground yesterday.
"It just shows that we can play good footy, but we are right at the bottom still," he said.
"If we can build on this and eradicate sections in our games where we have lapses, the world is our oyster."
Richmond's young players will return to the club in late October to begin pre-season training, and Riewoldt says they are hungry to improve."We have six to eight weeks and after that we will go back in and start running around again and hit the gym," he said.
"We have a great young group of players and they train hard, especially the young crop from this year. We know where we are at - 15th - and we know it's going to take a lot of hard work, but it's a sacrifice we are prepared to make."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/all-jack-riewoldt-wants-is-a-flag/story-e6frf9jf-1225911588253