For clarification

[James]

I am a massive fan of Nick Riewoldt.

I am simply realistic in my judgment of him.

Now shut up.

[markmark]

And

[saintly_safes]

I am a massive fan of Nick Riewoldt.

I am simply realistic in my judgment of him.

Now shut up.

So when are you posting a realistic post then?

[|Andy|]

TROLL.. if brown or franklin ran the miles up to the wing the amount of times that roo does, they wouldn't kick the 3 goals a game.. riewoldt is NOT OVERRATED!

[|Andy|]

TROLL.. if brown or franklin ran the miles up to the wing the amount of times that roo does, they wouldn't kick the 4 goals a game.. riewoldt is NOT OVERRATED!

[Milton66]

I am a massive fan of Nick Riewoldt.

I am simply realistic in my judgment of him.

Now shut up.

Clueless, James. A GT wannabe.

[stinger]

I am a massive fan of Nick Riewoldt.

I am simply realistic in my judgment of him.

Now shut up.

...THIS SAYS IT BETTER......



Riewoldt - king of the forwards

Jake Niall | June 11, 2009

IN 2009 thus far, there is remarkably little debate about the players who rate as the top two in the competition. Gary Ablett and Chris Judd are viewed like Geelong and St Kilda on the ladder of individual performance.

While in 2008 Lance Franklin constituted the third amigo and a potential aspirant for the throne, this season he has been surpassed by a player who is recognised as a superstar, yet often maligned for his inaccuracy.

He is neither as spectacular as Franklin, nor as flamboyant as Brendan Fevola; he isn't physically imposing in the manner of Jonathan Brown and Jarryd Roughead.

Yet, at this moment, Nick Riewoldt is the best forward in the game. He has been among the best handful of players in the competition since the middle of last year, when he picked up the Saints and carried them from outside the eight to a preliminary final.

His efforts in the second half of 2008 tended to be discounted, in part because of Franklin's 100 goals and associated hype.

This year, again Riewoldt's efforts have been slightly undersold; this time, his output is taken for granted.

When seeking to explain St Kilda's improvement, we look to the huge increase in Justin Koschitzke's productivity, to Brendon Goddard's continued emergence and to the fact that Michael Gardiner has exhumed a career that appeared over, while Lenny Hayes is rightly praised for his fanatical commitment and even Zac Dawson is getting credit.

We look to what has changed — collectively and individually. Riewoldt has just continued the vein of form that began in the second half of 2008.

But the numbers suggest that he is hitting the scoreboard more often than he did in 2008, and some opposition clubs believe he has elevated his performances further — helped, obviously, by the rising St Kilda tide. The Saints captain has booted 35 goals this year, which means he is on track for 70 in the home-and-away season.

He is within four goals of the lead in the Coleman Medal, while averaging significantly higher disposals than his major key forward competitors. He has kicked the same number of goals as Brisbane's Brown, and only two fewer than Franklin, yet has them clearly covered for marks and possession.

Matthew Pavlich, who would be a serious rival to Riewoldt if he was playing as a pure key forward in a stronger team, has been forced up the ground by Fremantle's deficiencies.

The most striking feature of Riewoldt's season has been the constancy of his goalkicking. He has booted three or more goals in every game since round four, without having exceeded five goals. He is bankable in a way that Fevola, needless to add, is not. Fev has kicked eight goals twice, but has failed four times to score more than one major.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, who saw Riewoldt up close in round 10 on the Gold Coast, noted that the St Kilda skipper's marking appeared to have improved. "I think he's cleaner with his hands, which is scary," said Bailey, who added that the Saints were creating more inside 50s for Riewoldt and had increased his opportunities to remain inside the forward 50-metre area.

With the ball spending far more time forward of centre than it did in 2008, Riewoldt is able to lead from closer to goal, and Koschitzke's form has created a Franklin-Roughead effect, whereby the opposition cannot pay too much heed to one without the other getting off the chain.

If there is almost consensus, even within the clubs, that Ablett and Judd stand apart, it's arguable that Riewoldt could be the competition's most important player in determining the 2009 premiership.

While Judd's influence on his club is profound and multi-dimensional — his leadership being as critical as kicks and handballs — Carlton is not yet in premiership contention, and whatever he does is unlikely to shape the outcome of the finals.

Ablett's significance is diluted for precisely the opposite reason — his team is so good and bursting with seasoned stars, that it's conceivable Geelong could still beat anyone without him. Consider that the Cats smashed Essendon without Joel Corey, Paul Chapman and Brad Ottens, with Tom Harley off the field with an injury.

Koschitzke might be a barometer, but Riewoldt is indispensable, the most irreplaceable player in the team most likely to threaten the Cats.

He also happens to be the only weapon that St Kilda possesses — a champion key forward — and Geelong does not. Mercifully.

[nathan000]

Fantastic article and i'm glad he is starting to get the real praise he deserves.

[saintsRrising]

[
...THIS SAYS IT BETTER......



Riewoldt - king of the forwards

Jake Niall | June 11, 2009



He also happens to be the only weapon that St Kilda possesses — a champion key forward — and Geelong does not. Mercifully.

It does..

But that last line should be:

He also happens to be the only weapon that St Kilda possesses — a champion key forward — that Geelong does not


For we have all the other tools that Geelong has......except a brilliant medium forward.

[widereceiver]

Great credit to our captain, who tries his utmost in every contest.

I would love to know in $ and cents how much each kick he has costs.