Richmond Tigers Jack Riewoldt changing role Daniel Cherny
The Age
June 26, 2015 A Richmond spearhead known at times to wear his heart on his sleeve has monopolised the club's goalkicking award for most of his career. But when more forward options presented, the player was at last allowed to roam far and wide.
That was how it panned out in 2008, when Terry Wallace famously sent veteran Matthew Richardson up the ground. It was a move that led the Tigers to the cusp of a finals berth, Richardson to within an "umpire's call" of a Brownlow Medal. In the middle of that season then Richmond football boss Greg Miller explained the club's goalkicking succession plan to sports website The Roar.
"We've recruited some key forwards and key big men to aim for, they're competing at the moment and it's a very healthy environment," said Miller.
"With Richo not being in the forward line as much, it's opening up opportunities for these guys to show us what they're worth."
One of those young forwards was Jack Riewoldt.
Seven years later, history is repeating itself. At least to an extent.
Riewoldt is only 26, and should have plenty more goals to add to his current tally of 409 in yellow and black. But in the past six weeks, he's been jettisoned away from the forward 50, spending more time outside the arc than ever at AFL level.
Since Richardson's retirement at the end of 2009, Riewoldt has missed only one game. In each of the five subsequent completed seasons, he acquired no less than 57.7 per cent of his possessions inside 50. This trend had been continuing during the season's first six weeks, during which the dual Coleman Medallist he had won 63 per cent of his touches inside the arc.
In round 7, Hardwick decided to add a pair of forwards in Ty Vickery and Liam McBean. Every week since, two of Vickery, McBean and Ben Griffiths have spent large chunks of the game forward for the Tigers. Riewoldt has been sent packing. Between rounds 7 and 12, only 32.4 per cent of his possessions have been won inside 50. In the Friday night upset of Fremantle three weeks ago, just two of Riewoldt's possessions were gained forward.
Richo eat your heart out!
The move looks to be working. Richmond won four in a row between rounds 7 and 10, before being knocked off by West Coast last weekend after the Tigers' round 11 bye. Griffiths and Vickery have overcome injuries, and after seven and six years on the Richmond list respectively, both are playing their part in the revamped Tiger machine, combining for 13 goals across a combined eight matches since round 7.
Hardwick spoke on Thursday about the advantages of playing all three talls.
"They're all different in the way they play... They cover cover the ground well for three bigger players," he said.
He elaborated on how important it is for Vickery and Griffiths to remain threats up forward, explaining how in the past it wasn't possible to push Riewoldt away from full forward.
"I've been trying to get it into [Riewoldt's] game probably for a period of time. The fact of the matter is that we've needed to play him deeper at stages because he's been a lone hand up forward. With the inclusion of Griffiths and Vickery kicking goals, it's allowed us to get him up the ground."
And just what is it that free-range Riewoldt provides to the Tigers? According to his coach, much of the benefit comes in the form of nous.
"He's an incredibly smart player, his ability to use the ball and find options inside 50 is probably a little bit understated at various stages. We're really happy he can still go deep and kick goals for us but he's got the flexibility of playing up the ground also."
The significance of Riewoldt's shift shouldn't be understated. After all, this is a player who in 2010 amassed 78 goals and claimed the Coleman Medal in a 15th-placed team. The next-best Tiger that year was Andrew Collins. He kicks 15 that season before being traded to Carlton.
You can get odds of $126 at corporate bookmaker CrownBet for Riewoldt to match Richardson's 2008 feat and place in the Brownlow. Don't say it hasn't happened before.
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