Riewoldt sees resolve in Tiger cubs
richmondfc.com.au
By Jennifer Witham
Thu 17 July, 2008
EMERGING Richmond forward and new NAB Rising Star nominee Jack Riewoldt believes a reason the Tigers are improving is because their young stable has quickly learned how to hurt and respond to a loss.
Riewoldt, 19, and fellow 2006 draftee Shane Edwards have played just 44 games between them, while midfielder Nathan Foley and key position players Cleve Hughes and Will Thursfield, senior-listed in 2005, have collectively recorded 112.
Given opportunities last year, when the club endured 18 losses and one draw, Riewoldt believes the group of young players has already developed a strong desire to win.
"A lot of guys come into the system and their goal is to play AFL footy," Riewoldt told afl.com.au.
"Once they've achieved that, they sort of don't know where to go from there.
"Just one year of seniority and you start to know what it's like to hurt after a loss, and when you win, you do really appreciate it."
Riewoldt admitted last year was a surreal experience for the emerging group, as they settled into an AFL environment and got used to life as elite sportsmen.
And he believes the wooden spoon campaign affected the club's older players more than the young ones.
"Last year was probably was a bit more tough on the senior guys rather than the younger guys," he said.
"We had a lot of success at Coburg and a lot of the young guys were playing there, and we were lucky enough to reach a grand final.
"I don't think you really know what it feels like to play in the seniors and win games and feel the impact that has on people and the football community until you do it.
"The senior guys last year like Kane Johnson and Nathan Brown were pretty disappointed, but for a lot of the younger guys, it just went over our heads."
However, Riewoldt believes the situation has changed this year with the developing group of players learning to play and prepare with resolve.
"This year, the losses have hurt us pretty hard, especially the Carlton loss. We wanted to celebrate the club's centenary so that was pretty disappointing," he said.
"We've had a few more wins this year and some of the older guys are really quite happy with where we're going.
"I think the younger guys are really starting to prove we're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next couple of years."
Riewoldt also revealed his excitement at being part of the new breed of Tigers at Punt Road.
"I come to training every day and I see Cleve Hughes and Trent Cotchin and Dan Connors and Shane Edwards, and these younger guys that Terry's put in place," he said.
"We might be doing weights together but we're all great mates, and we all know that we have something special to bring to the team.
"It's bound to happen, if you bring that sort of talent together and the sort of guys you have around the club.
"Then you just add the guys like Richo (Matthew Richardson) and Joel Bowden and the experience they have, and success is bound to happen."
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