Richmond teammates help Jack Riewoldt in Coleman Medal hunt

RICHMOND went looking for Jack Riewoldt, who is in the box seat to win his third Coleman Medal, but the Tigers spearhead expects North Melbourne will do the same for Ben Brown.

Jack Riewoldt is favourite to win his third Coleman Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

RICHMOND went looking for Jack Riewoldt yesterday.

And why wouldn’t the Tigers, as their spearhead hunted his third Coleman Medal?

As the siren sounded on a nailbiting three-point Richmond win at the MCG, Riewoldt had a seven-goal lead and one hand on the esteemed award — with Kangaroo Ben Brown to play today.

But the rock-star premiership Tiger is in the box seat.

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Riewoldt spent 100 per cent of the game on the ground and his teammates gave him every chance by targeting him 24 times inside forward 50 — the most of his 247-game career.

“I don’t know. Look, the stats probably say yes (they were looking for me),” a sheepish-looking Riewoldt told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“It’s probably a little bit of an unhealthy number. It’s a bit of a hard one for me to talk about, because I’m just trying to play my role.

“You want the ball every time if you feel like you’re out, but it’s the nature of the game.”

Riewoldt said he’d be surprised if North Melbourne didn’t try it today with its power forward, and fellow Tasmanian, Brown.

The premiership Tiger might not watch the Kangaroos’ clash against St Kilda, maybe in favour of a game of golf.

Jack Riewoldt has a seven-goal lead over Ben Brown in the Coleman Medal race. Picture: Michael Klein

He is just happy it will be someone from the Apple Isle who receives the medal on Brownlow Medal night.

“Hopefully for Tassie, one of us can take home the medal,” Riewoldt said.

“We certainly bat outside of our weight division with that sort of stuff, and hopefully one of us can take it home.”

Coach Damien Hardwick said Riewoldt’s Coleman chances weren’t spoken about in-house, but he conceded the players may have had it on their mind in a “unique” set of circumstances.

Hardwick wants to get back to “some form of normality”, though, and a more “Richmond-like” attacking set-up, but praised his vice-captain’s effort.

“He’s had a great season — he certainly has,” Hardwick said.

“He always was a great player but he’s become an even better player, which is really pleasing. He’s one of those players that just works on something and gets better every year.

“We’re very lucky that he’s become such a formidable player for us.”

Riewoldt booted five goals against the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

Australian Football Hall of Fame member Wayne Carey said on Triple M he considered this to be the best of Riewoldt’s 12 seasons.

He added this could be Riewoldt’s best Coleman Medal win, despite falling 13 goals short of the career-best 78 he booted in 2010.

Riewoldt kicked 65 goals to win the medal in 2012.

If Riewoldt agreed with Carey, he played it cool, ­describing his season as “OK to good”.

“I’ve played my role and I feel like I’ve helped other guys play theirs,” the 29-year-old said.

“I’ve really enjoyed this year. It’s one that I haven’t ­really experienced before, coming into a lot of games as favourites and expected to win, so it’s just continually trying to pass the lessons on to the young kids.

“Whatever will be, will be, and we’ll know by the end of the weekend.”

HOW JACK BAGGED HIS FIVE ... AND MAYBE THE COLEMAN

Q1

6 min — Around the body snap from 5m out at the Punt Road end

Q3

18 min — Juggled a mark 25 metres out, sending the crowd nuts. Kicked the goal from directly in front. Raised that famous right arm in triumph for a high-five.

26 min — Pulled down a mark, 30m out from goal, straight in front. Up went the right arm again, this time a finger point for his 600th career goal that prompted a “Riewoldt” chant at the MCG.

Q4

2 min — Straight in front, 25m out. Clinical.

6min — Fed the ball by Dustin Martin who was clearly hunting his target. A straight drop punt from the pocket at the city end to put himself seven goals clear of Ben Brown.

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