You don't know Jack Riewoldt
Jon Ralph | May 17, 2008 12:00am
JACK Riewoldt had been waiting his whole life for the post-siren matchwinner he faced against St Kilda two weeks ago.
When the young Richmond forward practised his heroics, he was deep in the pocket conjuring some outlandish check-side snap.
When he dreamed about it, he was poised and accepted the responsibility, not cowering in fear of losing the match off his own boot.
But Riewoldt never thought it would happen in just his 12th AFL game, and from 55m out.
As a junior star faced with a 70m kick after halftime in a senior semi-final, he unleashed a steepling torpedo that sailed through post-high.
But it was different against St Kilda and, as it turned out, nothing like those childhood fairytales.
His kick dropped short, the Tigers were beaten and Riewoldt's shot at instant fame was over -- for now.
"It's usually a boyhood dream to kick the goal after the siren, but I hadn't practised from 50m out," Riewoldt reflected this week.
"I thought I was a little bit of a chance but I didn't hit it very well, which probably cost me in the end. I was a chance to kick it, but like I said to Plough (coach Terry Wallace), probably four times out of 10.
"I have thought about it before and I knew if the siren went I didn't want to look like I didn't want it, because I wanted to be the player, that one kicking the ball.
"But if I had my time again, I wouldn't change it, I would do exactly the same thing, and be happy to be the person in the moment. It just would have been nice if it was 40m out, instead of 55, really."
Nothing about Riewoldt's response to that missed opportunity will surprise the Tigers.
Riewoldt, taken at pick No. 13 in the 2006 draft, has established himself as the kind of confident, perfectly balanced kid capable of riding the highs and lows of AFL fame for the next decade.
As an interviewee, he is seriously impressive - calm and considered, yet infused with a particular blend of Riewoldt cheekiness sure to endear him to fans.
And as a footballer, his poise and attack on the ball, which put him in position to win the game against St Kilda, say it all.
No one is quite sure if he will become a clever lightly built flanker or a star key-position forward.
But with a heap of talent and a bold outlook on where he wants to go, Richmond thinks it has a beauty on its hands.
If that missed shot sparked the public's imagination, it is 19-year-old Riewoldt's history that is more captivating.
Just over half a century ago, German immigrants Heinz and Helga Riewoldt stepped off a boat in Tasmania, where Heinz began working at the Hydro-Electric Commission.
They had four sons - Joe, Ray, Chris and Peter - who all played for Clarence in the TFL.
Eldest son Joe is the father of Nick Riewoldt, who was drafted by St Kilda after his family had moved to the Gold Coast.
Chris married Rodney Eade's first cousin Lesley and produced Jack, as well as younger brothers Harry and Charlie.
Chris was a Tasmanian star who signed a Form Four tying him to St Kilda, but he never pursued it.
After an aborted experiment with football at under-9s, Jack preferred soccer until Nick was drafted.
"When I was 12 I decided to give up soccer and follow in Nick's footsteps as he was just starting out. I wanted to be the same as him," Jack said.
"I idolise him and go to every game he plays. It's a bit weird to be playing against him. I know how hard he works and how much he holds St Kilda to his heart. But when it comes to the Saints and Tiges, there is no argument for me."
It was cousin Nick who went to Riewoldt after the siren to console him.
"He just said, 'You have been going pretty well'. He was pretty proud of me and we were both a bit disappointed, because he had injured himself, but generally we talked about our families rather than the footy," Riewoldt said.
"Then Robert Harvey came over and said he had been watching me a little bit. He said, 'Look, mate, you are going to be right. These things happen'. I was pretty stoked to have those people come over and talk."
The debate about Riewoldt's ideal role at Richmond is not likely to be resolved soon.
Still growing at 193cm, he is a fraction taller than his cousin - "back-to-back I have just got him" -- but needs to pile on the 12-13kg advantage 25-year-old Nick has.
This pre-season was spent transforming his body as he stripped puppy fat rather then bulked up.
Riewoldt lost 4-5kg of fat and threw himself into a regimen of leg weights and improving his running technique to boost agility and mobility.
Wednesday mornings are still spent tweaking his running technique with Richmond rehab and conditioning trainer Warren Kofoed.
"I am definitely not the old-style centre half-forward, I am more of the half-forward flanker, working in and out of holes," he said.
"I would like to consider myself as a power forward when I get the body right, but I am just happy on the flank at the moment."
Like any old man, father Chris couldn't be prouder of his boy.
Chris Riewoldt played 278 games for Clarence, but decided against a move to St Kilda when Melbourne universities would not credit his half-finished teaching degree.
"He's a wonderful kid. He has the most fantastic personality you would ever see. He's a confident young lad and he's so enthusiastic," Chris said.
"Richmond say they are happy to have him. He's the loudest at the club on and off the field."
Riewoldt is similarly effusive about his father.
"He's a great dad, there is nothing more you could ask from him. He supported me in everything I wanted to do. He was always riding us hard, but he was there to let us do what we wanted to do," he said.
That Riewoldt spunk is what the Tigers are counting on.
Like many Richmond youngsters, Riewoldt raves about the influence of captain Kane Johnson in setting the leadership and behavioural standards for an improving side.
He hopes the new breed might be able to combine Johnson's example with their own talents to create something special.
"We really enjoy being a part of Richmond," Riewoldt said.
"It's like going to school with your older prefects like 'Sugar' (Johnson), Richo and Browny (Nathan Brown) and then you have the students underneath like 'Lids' (Brett Deledio) and Shane Edwards and we just keep learning off them."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23709584-19742,00.html
