Jack Riewoldt compares Adelaide to multiple-premiership winning sides after Crows thump Richmond

RICHMOND’S Jack Riewoldt has likened the familiarity within Adelaide’s ladder-leading side to that of multiple-premiership winning clubs of the past decade.

Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt has backed Adelaide as premiership favourite after his Tigers’ heavy defeat at Adelaide Oval. Picture: DANIEL KALISZ/GETTY IMAGES

RICHMOND’S Jack Riewoldt has likened the familiarity within Adelaide’s line-up to that of multiple-premiership winning clubs of the past decade.

The forward was on the receiving end of a 76-point hammering at the hands of the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Speaking on AFL 360 on Tuesday night, Riewoldt said the consistency of Don Pyke’s selections had been central to Adelaide’s 6-0 start to the campaign.

“You look at the successful sides over the last decade,” Riewoldt said when asked to compare the Crows to other teams he had faced.

“They’ve been together for a while most of the Crows guys.

“They’ve had a few young guys come in, but they are as well-rounded an outfit as certainly I’ve played against for a while.”

Most attention has centred on Adelaide’s free-scoring attack which has averaged 134 points per game.

Adelaide’s Luke Brown put in another solid display in defence against Richmond. Picture: SARAH REED

But it has been equally well served by defenders such as Brodie Smith, Curtly Hampton, Jake Kelly and Luke Brown.

Riewoldt said the settled backline reminded him of the Hawthorn premiership sides of 2013-15 and the Geelong champions of 2007, 2009 and 2011.

“They are coached really well (and) they get their spacing right,” he said of Adelaide.

“In terms of their structures they are really compliant to what they need to do.

“They are a super, super side and they deserve to be the premiership favourites.”

Riewoldt said the heavy defeat to the Crows had delivered a harsh lesson to his previously undefeated teammates.

“It was a really good learning curve for some of our younger kids to understand what it’s like to travel and play in front of 50,000 screaming Crows fans.

“(They) learned a bit about themselves.”