Jack Riewoldt signs new deal and sacrifices cash in order to stay at Richmond

STAR forward Jack Riewoldt will sacrifice cash for the second consecutive contract as he put pen to paper on a new deal that ensures he’ll finish his career at Punt Road. He reveals why he’s sacrificing cash.

Jack Riewoldt has been in sublime form. Pic: Michael Klein

JACK Riewoldt will retire as a one-club premiership star.

Riewoldt has officially signed a two-year contract extension with the Tigers that will lock him in until the end of the 2021 season.

The deal was revealed by the Herald Sun last week, with his manager Liam Pickering saying then he only needed to sign that contract.

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It will allow Riewoldt to kick as many as 800 AFL goals, with the selfless Tiger currently on 243 games and 581 goals.

But Riewoldt will sacrifice cash for the second consecutive contract, after Fremantle came calling with a significant offer during his last round of talks.

Jason Castagna (left) is happy Jack Riewoldt is sticking around. Pic: Getty Images

Riewoldt will be 33 at the end of this contract but has said he’s happy to stay for less than market value.

The Tigers not only have to keep money for Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch, they need room for uncontracted players Jayden Short, Bachar Houli and Shaun Grigg.

“I’m not alone in this, Rancey would be in the same situation,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy about sacrificing cash.

“It’s a sign of successful club. I was talking to Jordan Lewis in the green room and about Hawthorn in their heyday and he spun a few figures. I wonder how were they paid that much?

“Hopefully it’s a sign of being a strong club.”

The Tigers are locked in a race over Lynch with Hawthorn and Collingwood, with the Pies having met him twice in the past fortnight.

He said he would only meet with a player post-season to attempt to convince them to come to his club.

“I wasn’t there and I don’t have anything to do with the recruitment of players during the season,” Riewoldt said.

“Post the season, I’ve done that in the past once the season’s finished and players are out of contract and the club’s looking to get better.”

Riewoldt and Alex Rance are now signed up until 2021, with captain Trent Cotchin and Josh Caddy tied up until 2020 and Dustin Martin 2024.

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