AFL team would be “silly” not to learn from Jackies: Riewoldt
The JackJumpers’ on-court success has been immediate. But Tasmania Football Club ambassador Jack Riewoldt says they can learn most from their success in being embraced by the public in an “information-sharing” relationship.
Tasmanian Football Club ambassador Jack Riewoldt says they’d “be silly not to” pick the brains of the masterminds behind the JackJumpers’ immediate embrace from the public.
While the JackJumpers have enjoyed great results on court in their first three seasons, their ability to connect with the community is what has impressed Riewoldt most.
The Richmond legend said they had already had discussions with JackJumpers chief executive Christine Finnigan and players on how they’ve represented the region by adopting Tasmanian values.
The JackJumpers’ mantra of ‘defending the island’ has become commonplace, and Riewoldt says the state’s AFL side can tap into the same mantra.
“We’d be silly not to look at them (JackJumpers). They’re a professional sporting organisation in Tasmania, and a well-run one from a coaching and administration point of view,” Riewoldt said.
“We’ve chatted to Christine Finnigan, watched the Jackies closely and even chatted to a couple of players about some things.
“A lot of people probably see us as competitors maybe, but to have an information sharing relationship I think is really important.
“We’ll never see a footy team where everyone is Tasmanian or a fully-Tasmanian JackJumpers team. The common goal a lot of us want to do in this industry is get more kids playing sport.”
Riewoldt said it’s key for non-Tasmanian players recruited to the club to invest in adopting the community’s values.
“Who would have thought a guy from Ohio (JackJumpers coach Scott Roth) would have such a massive impact on Tasmanian culture?”, Riewoldt said.
“He’s a great example of you can come into a community and state, and be accepted so quickly just by listening more than anything else.
“It would be a great question to ask Scott Roth, does he consider himself Tasmanian?
“It doesn’t take long before people start becoming a product of their environment. That’s probably why Tasmanians love Scott Roth and the JackJumpers so much is they symbolise who we are.”
Basketball is bearing the fruit of having a huge presence in schools in the lead-up to the JackJumpers’ inclusion in the NBL.
It’s an issue some in football circles believe their sport needs to improve in order to compete for the best talent, including newly-elected Launceston Blues president Scott Stephens.
“The JackJumpers have probably got a jump on us a little bit with basketball talent, and how much that’s exploded in communities,” Riewoldt said.
“I see that with my own children, they love throwing their JackJumpers tops on and we see so many kids with JackJumpers stuff.
“They love the JackJumpers and footy is that times ten, times 20. We’re not going to get all the most talented kids in the state playing for us, but we want to give them access to sport
“It’s extraordinary that sense of belonging and connection. I watch the JackJumpers religiously and I know families who say ‘right we’re going to watch that’, or go along.
“Their might be people from Queenstown who have never followed footy, and all of a sudden their ears prick because it’s the Tasmanian Football Club.”
