Jack Riewoldt reveals how Dustin Martin’s words inspired Richmond’s Grand Final comeback
He can do it all on the field, now Jack Riewoldt has revealed how Dustin Martin inspired his teammates in the rooms at halftime of last year’s epic Grand Final .
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jack Riewoldt says Dustin Martin’s emerging leadership will take him to an even greater level, revealing it was the midfield star’s halftime words that inspired Richmond’s comeback in the Grand Final.
Richmond was 21 points down nearing halftime at the Gabba until Martin’s late goal dragged the margin back to within striking distance.
Watch every match of the 2021 AFL home-and-away season LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Martin would go on to win his third Norm Smith Medal and with four more years on his contract, Riewoldt believes he can elevate to an even greater plane.
Riewoldt told “One Night in Brisbane”, a Fox Footy Grand Final feature to air on Thursday night, that Martin had another level of achievement left at 29 years of age.
“This bloke – he’s not known as a leader outside of the footy club, but he was the one who grabbed everyone and said, ‘We’re right in this, we’re right up to our eyeballs in this game’ and we could feel the momentum shift back our way.
“It’s so phenomenal what he does in big games and we’re bloody lucky to have him.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Fox Footy’s 2021 season launch in Melbourne, Riewoldt said he was focussed on Richmond’s Round 1 clash against Carlton at the MCG next Thursday.
“It has been rejuvenating coming back and training at the club and I just can’t wait for the games to start and to get into the grind of the season,” Riewoldt told the Herald Sun
The three-time premiership forward said the sky was still the limit for Martin.
“I’m really proud of who he’s become – the growth in him as a person and a mate, I couldn’t be more proud of what he’s done and it’s reflective on who we’re going to see going forward as well.
“I think we’re going to see a much more mature player – the sky really is the limit.
“I know he values how important he is from a vice-captain, from a captain, from the coach on how much we lean on him – I think he’s starting to get a bit of a grasp on how important he is – not only as a player but as a cultural figure from Richmond.”
Coach Damien Hardwick tells the program that he believes the premiership was one of the hardest ever won in football given the constant challenges of hub life and the dramatic changes to the season brought about by COVID.
“I think this is a really, really tough thing to say, but I think this is our best Grand Final win.
“I sort of look at it that this is one of the hardest and most challenging years that we’ll ever go through and it was such a fantastic effort by our players and our club overall to walk away with what I think is one of the hardest trophies ever to win.
“You look at all of (Martin’s) four goals on Grand Final day – each one surpassed the other – they were just incredible. You look back at that Grand Final and just shake your head at his performance.”
Riewoldt will again be a regular guest on AFL 360 this year — the award-winning program hosted by Gerard Whateley and HeraldSun chief football writer Mark Robinson.
The Tigers champion will be joined by Melbourne’s Christian Petracca, Blues favourite Eddie Betts and Bulldog recruit AdamTreloar.
Fox’s iconic footy show On The Couch will celebrate its 20th birthday this year — with original host Gerard Healy still at the helm.
Healy will be joined weekly by Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt.
In an innovative move, Fox Footy and Kayo will for the first time offer game day “Minis” for all nine games each round.
The shortened version of the match allows fans to catch up on all the action and highlights in less than 20 minutes.
“Fox Footy is back with all our shows, including AFL 360, and we are incredibly pleased to have Eddie Betts and Christian Petracca join our line-up,” Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley said.
“We have a commentary and production team that’s the best in the business, and with no ad-breaks during play, fans know that Fox Footy is the go-to place for all the 2021 season football action.”
One Night in Brisbane- a Fox Footy Grand Final feature. Thursday, 7.30pm. Fox Footy- Channel 504
RE-SEASON COMP A RATINGS BONANZA
- Scott Gullan
The streamlined pre-season competition has proved to be a major winner for the AFL.
Footy fans have embraced the one weekend only version with record numbers tuning into Fox Footy.
After supporters had their love stretched during a difficult 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems the thirst for football is well and truly back.
The 2021 Community Series averaged 131,000 viewers, the highest rating pre-season tournament since 2013.
Instead of being spread over three weeks, the pre-season competition was reduced to just nine games over five days with the ratings up by 51 per cent on the opening nine games in 2020.
It was also up 53 per cent on the entire 2020 competition average.
The Richmond-Collingwood blockbuster on Friday night was the highest rating game with an audience of 197,000 across Foxtel and Kayo.
This was the largest pre-season audience for a game since 2016 (Geelong v Collingwood) and the sixth highest pre-season game on record.
The Cats win over Essendon had the second-highest audience over the weekend with the Thursday night opener between St Kilda and Carlton ranked third.
SEVEN’S POST-BRUCE COMMENTARY TEAM REVEALED
- Rebecca Williams
Geelong captain Joel Selwood and star West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui will step into the commentary box as part of Channel 7’s expert AFL team this year.
Following the shock news earlier this month legendary caller Bruce McAvaney was retiring from AFL calling, Seven has confirmed its on-screen line-up for 2021.
Selwood and Naitanui are two big additions to the Seven team with the pair making guest appearances throughout the season.
Brian Taylor will lead Seven’s Friday night football and Sunday football coverage, along with other blockbuster matches and the network also welcomes back callers James Brayshaw, Friday night football host Hamish McLachlan and Luke Darcy, who will call Saturday night footy.
Expert commentators Luke Hodge, Wayne Carey, Daisy Pearce, Matthew Richardson, Jobe Watson, Leigh Matthews, Tim Watson, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel and Abbey Holmes are also back for 2021.
Managing director Seven Melbourne and head of network sport Lewis Martin said Seven had assembled a strong line-up for this year’s AFL season.
“We have assembled the game’s strongest, most talented and most experienced commentary line-up,” Martin said.
“After an extraordinary 2020, they’re ready and raring for the new season to start.
“One of the greatest broadcasters of all time, Bruce McAvaney, is stepping back from calling games but rest assured he will still be an important part of our on-air team. Bruce remains a vital part of Seven’s AFL, horse racing, the Olympic Games and other special events.”
Taylor said he couldn’t wait to see the season’s big storylines unfold.
“March/April is the time when almost every fan thinks their team can win the premiership. Can the chosen players rise again? Which one of the competition’s young guns will become
the next Paddy Dangerfield? There will be plenty of compelling storylines for our team to explore,” he said.
“Our line-up at Seven is full of knowledge and enthusiasm, and together we can’t wait to see all the questions that arise throughout the season answered.”
In other highlights of Seven’s football coverage in 2021, Seven will also unleash premiership teammates Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas in the new ‘Heater and Daisy Show’ where the duo will give fans what the network promises to be an “unfiltered view” of the game’s biggest stories on 7plus every Monday night.
Abbey Gelmi joins Seven’s football team to host the Sunday Footy Fest, which will provide a wrap of all the day’s action, including the VFL and AFL matches of the day, and the round’s highlights and news.
The Front Bar with Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher is back and Adam Cooney and Cam Luke will give their unique take on the match of the round as Armchair Experts returns to Seven and 7plus on Friday nights.
Shock scenario in Bailey Smith stalemate
Bailey Smith’s Western Bulldogs exit has set up a potentially rare scenario that could deliver a shock result as Geelong’s offer hits a stalemate.
The late draft pick that could deliver Stringer to Giants
Essendon is open to trading inconsistent star Jake Stringer to GWS as the 30-year-old considers a beefed-up offer from the Giants.