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Jack Riewoldt keen for AFL bushfire game

3 minute read

Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt is confident he is over the injury struggles of 2019 as he prepares for a new AFL season.

JACK RIEWOLDT at ME Bank Centre in Melbourne, Australia.
JACK RIEWOLDT at ME Bank Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Dual-premiership star Jack Riewoldt is keen to play in the AFL's bushfire charity game and, pleasingly for Richmond, the veteran spearhead is healthy enough to have a kick too.

If they'll have him, of course.

Riewoldt missed 12 games last year with wrist and knee injuries, but the 30-year-old didn't need post-season surgery and is delighted with how his preparation for the 2020 season has progressed.

He told reporters on Friday that superstar teammate Dustin Martin has also put his hand up to play for the Victorian side, coached by Damien Hardwick.

Riewoldt, a proud Tasmanian, would line up for John Longmire's All Stars team if selected for the February 28 exhibition game at Marvel Stadium.

"I'd love to play, I've just got to get picked," Riewoldt said on Friday.

"With only three players from each team being picked I'm looking at it and thinking we've got some pretty good players who would get picked ahead of me.

"From my conversations with (Dusty) he's really keen to play too.

"I think he's pretty keen to play at full-forward and kick a big bag of goals.

"I think all players are jumping out of their skins to be a part of the game.

"I suppose having Dimma as coach (helps)," Riewoldt said.

The 262-game veteran enjoyed great durability during his career up until last season.

His injury lay-offs meant he didn't get as many opportunities as he would have liked to create chemistry with star signing Tom Lynch.

It didn't prove too big an issue for the Tigers as they stormed to their second premiership in three years, but Riewoldt is keen to build on their relationship.

"I'm really confident coming into this season personally and looking forward to providing a good foil for Tom," he said.

"The fact that we didn't get a lot of game time together, we were relying basically on each other's football knowledge to really avoid each other.

"We can practice a few little things now, get that connection and on-field work rate together is really exciting.

"I'm looking forward to learning off him and trying to teach him a few tricks of the trade so we can have another great year."

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