Jack Riewoldt does himself few favours. He on occasions deliberately, and at other times unwittingly, makes himself a media target with his erratic off-field behaviour.
Meanwhile, he has the strongest on-field body language seen since his former teammate Matthew Richardson was gesticulating with displeasure up forward.
But he was unfairly becoming the scapegoat for Richmond’s lousy 2014 season until he sidled up and slotted 11 goals against GWS on the weekend.
Riewoldt has not been close to Richmond’s most disappointing player this season. He has been cruelled by the state of the side.
Poor delivery into the forward line makes it difficult for any goalscorer. When your team is also so lacking in confidence it frequently moves the ball up field at a glacial pace, what chance do you have?
He has routinely found himself trying to win the ball in a forward half packed with opposition players who have had ample time to push back and block space.
In spite of these trying circumstances, the controversial spearhead had been serviceable. Prior to the weekend blitz he had averaged 12 touches, 5 marks, 3 tackles and kicked 17 goals from 8 games.
Those numbers may be well shy of what he has posted at his best, but they are far from deplorable.
Riewoldt was certainly poor in Round 9 when the Tigers’ finals hopes were all but ended by an upset loss to Melbourne, though he wasn’t alone on a day when Richmond thoroughly embarrassed themselves.
However, in the previous two rounds, against heavyweight opponents Geelong and Hawthorn, Riewoldt had been lively, with 16 possessions and 2 goals in each match.
But the combination of the loss to Melbourne and some ill-advisedly honest comments last week left the 25-year-old under siege from not just the media but also his own coach.
Damien Hardwick implied he was considering dumping Riewoldt for the GWS game after the footballer publicly criticised the team’s tactics.
Riewoldt had told the media that Richmond had tried unsuccessfully to replicate the game plan of the reigning premiers Hawthorn.
“Unfortunately we went one way with our game, and the game went the other way, really,” he said.
It was a foolhardy piece of candid commentary from Riewoldt. He would not have got himself into that predicament had he followed through on his petulant pre-season promise that he would not be talking to the media at all this season.
But it did not warrant the force of criticism Riewoldt copped as he become the lightning rod for all things bad at his floundering football club. It culminated in the bizarre scene of him trying desperately to avoid more hounding from the media pack outside Richmond training last Wednesday.
When he hopped a fence over a construction site and then hid behind a car to avoid detection by the media, it revealed a truly rattled player incapable of absorbing further scrutiny.
Riewoldt was seen shaking his head in apparent bemusement and frustration as he was filmed buying a train ticket at the end of this strange sequence of events.
If only he had kept his mouth shut about his side’s tactics the focus would instead have been shining on the more appropriate target of Hardwick, who has failed in all but one season since joining Richmond in 2009.
Riewoldt answered his coach, and his critics, in the most emphatic manner possible on the weekend. In doing so, he bought himself some time in a softer form of spotlight.
AdamS
Roar Guru
I don't really understand the criticism of JR. He was asked a question and gave an honest answer. The team is trying to do something and it's not working. That's clear to see from their results. Saying you want to play like the ladder leader isn't really a bad thing is it? Mountain out of molehill by all concerned. He should go back to his no interview stance or read from a cuecard of canned generic answers that say nothing if this is how he will keep being treated.
Gecko
Roar Pro
Ronan, if you're gonna make such a controversial statement as 'Hardwick.....has failed in all but one season since joining Richmond in 2009', you gotta back it up with an explanation. Some people would argue that Hardwick has been the most successful Richmond coach of the last 20 years.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Agree with both yourself, Axle, & Neil. Not the time for panic stations just yet. I believe Tony Jewell was the coach of Richmond's last flag winning team though, not Francis Bourke.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I like Hardwick as a person and how he handles the media (albeit not last week with Jack - I thought Jack's comments were fairly well warranted). I am not convinced by him as a coach yet. That can change easily however.
TomC
Roar Guru
I agree he'd made himself a lightning rod for criticism, but I'm not sure I agree that he's been blamed for everything wrong at Tigerland. Idiots like Mark Maclure might've done that, but I can't recall seeing anyone suggest that Riewoldt had a big role in Richmond's malaise. I stand to be corrected. Hardwick does seem to have a fairly soft time of it. He's generally pretty well liked and highly regarded by most, so perhaps he gets better treated than some others might've been. It's worth noting that Hardwick started Riewoldt behind the ball a few times on the weekend, and it seemed to improve Jack's ability to get involved, so perhaps Dimma deserves some of the credit for the performance too.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Interesting post Ronan. It appears everyone jumped on Riewoldt for simply voicing an opinion, rather than addressing the substance of what he said. Which when you get down to it, is an indictment of the coach.
NickoM
Guest
Agree 100%. His work to date in changing the culture and expectations, alongside the Club management has been excellent. However I believe that certainly in the Carlton games last year and in others I have seen he has been tactically outcoached on game day, failing to make adjustments when required to counter moves made by the opposition. Perhaps he needs support from someone with these skills in the box to complement his other attributes. I don't believe any moves should be made while he is on contract but I don't think his existing contract should have been extended during it's term either, rather reviewed when it expired. With regard to the Riewoldt matter I can't really be mad at Jack and nor should the coach either. We saw Hardwick in pressers shaking his head, 'baffled', 'exasperated', 'confused' basically having no answers and giving members and supported nothing so I was glad to hear something from someone within the organisation. I heard on the ABC that said no one thought it was particularly important until Damien made a fuss about it and drew attention to it, thus creating the issue!
Cat
Roar Guru
Hardwick has taken this team as far as its going to get, nice guy, took the Tigers out of the basement, but he isn't a penthouse kinda guy. Where the Tigers go from here will depend on if they are happy just making finals (stick with Hardwick) or want to truly reach the top (gotta find someone with more on field-nous and risk a temporary step backwards).
Axle an the guru
Guest
I dont really agree Ronan. I think the players need to take some heat for this slump. Hardwick must have done something right last year. He got them to the finals only to see the players let everyone down against Carlton. Ronan can you tell me who has been the most successful coach of Richmond since Francis Bourke,who was also sacked after two grand finals, one being a premiership.
Neil from Warrandyte
Guest
I disagree completely the notion that Hardwick has 'failed in all but one season'. When he took over as senior coach the club was being compared with Fitzroy of 1996, bookies were paying out on Richmond to be wooden spooners after the first 9 rounds, their facilities were among the worst in the AFL, they had crippling debt and expansion clubs were about to come on the scene depriving them of top end draft picks, all that just 4 years ago. As a long time tiger supporter and member, we have craved stability off the field, something that we are grateful Gale and March have been able to bring to the club. They have been able to eliminate the debt and build state of the art facilities and are only now able to invest more into the football department. While it is disappointing to see some of the recent poor performances on the field, it would be madness to even contemplate getting rid of Hardwick now after he has been such a big part of the Tigers rebuild from such a low base. His previous 4 seasons have all been successful, improving in each. Every year (even last year), after a loss or two, I hear some 'supporters' and those in the media come out and say the pressure should be on Hardwick or that he should be sacked. Then after they have a good win, claiming what a great coach he is for this young team. I personally hope he is there to at least see out his current contract (and beyond) as I am prepared to put up with a short term slump for the greater goal of sustained success.