Riewoldt,33,said he had been in regular discussions with the club about when the right time would be for him to end a glittering career that has yielded three flags,715 goals – including being an 11-time club leading goal-kicker – and this year almost certainly will have him pass Jack Dyer (311 matches) into second spot behind only Kevin Bartlett for most senior games by a Tiger.
While the passion to play burns as bright as ever,Riewoldt understands this could be his final season.
“Some people wrote me off a couple of years ago. I am coming to a period of my career that every year you roll into could possibly be your last one. And,also,organically for the team,you can’t hang around forever,” he said.
“We have got young kids coming through that I think are going to be fantastic players for the Richmond Football Club going forward. They need to be afforded the opportunity of playing and developing as well. So,whether that is with me in the team or not in the team when that happens,that is something that I have discussions about all the time.
“Ultimately,I don’t want to leave this club,and a lot of the older guys that are in that window in the next three to four years who may be finishing up don’t want to see the club fall in a heap and we have just served ourselves in terms of what we have been lucky enough to do. We want to see the success of this club go forever. That’s the one thing a few of that older group are focusing on – that legacy piece more than anything else.”
Riewoldt admitted his young family was now a greater priority than football,while off-field prospects would also be a consideration. He is already dabbling in a media career and on Wednesday was unveiled as a brand ambassador for the Hobart-based National Pies,with a pie to be named after him soon.
The retirements of premiership starsDavid Astbury and Bachar Houli last year signalled change at Punt Road,while former skipper Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards are among those whose careers are likely to end over the next couple of years.
‘A wealth of experience’
Riewoldt was also full of praise for how the club had settled onDylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis as co-captains,replacing Cotchin,who had opted to step aside after nine seasons in charge.
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“I don’t know if it will ever come out on how it went through,it was just run really well. The group went through a lot of things in terms of what we wanted from our leader,identifying characteristics,and that was a really tricky thing to do because we have come from arguably one of the greatest captains of Richmond’s history,” Riewoldt said.
“We couldn’t fall into the trap of just trying to replicate Trent,because you can’t do it. It’s impossible to do.
“I think there were a whole host of things[to consider] and,to be honest,they are fantastically covered by the two guys who have assumed the role now.
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“We are very lucky that we have two fantastic captains but what sits behind them is a wealth of experience. That’s probably myself,Shane,Trent,obviously,and now there is exuberance of leaders coming through. It may have been a bit early for their time to be captain,but they sit right under them[Grimes and Nankervis].”
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