JACK Riewoldt has long been considered one of the AFL's premier forwards, but the star Tiger's contribution to his team's rollicking start to 2017 cannot be underplayed.
As has been typical throughout his 207-game career, Riewoldt's impact on the scoreboard – 14 goals from five games – has been profound.
A six-goal haul against Melbourne in wet and slippery conditions underlined that Riewoldt is playing some of the best football of his career.
The Richmond star is No.1 in the competition for marks inside 50 (20) as he spends more time closer to goal this year, with the Tigers doing a better job of allowing their star players to play with a freedom not seen in past seasons.
However, an area of the in-form forward's game that has been vastly improved is his ability to apply pressure to the opposition.
Pressing up the ground and forcing turnovers in their own forward half is one of the key reasons behind the Tigers' unbeaten start to 2017 and Jack is leading from the front in this area.
Riewoldt has laid 10 tackles inside 50 this season, ranking equal-eighth in the AFL and just four behind competition leader Jeff Garlett from Melbourne.
Interestingly, Geelong's Tom Hawkins – not regarded as a defensive pressure expert – sits in second position on that table.
According to Champion Data, Hawkins is the only key forward to rate elite (in the top 10 per cent of the competition) for goals and tackles this season.
Riewoldt, Sydney's Lance Franklin and Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead are rated above average (top 35 per cent) for both stats, pointing to the esteemed company the Richmond spearhead is in.
Riewoldt led this statistic after round three with nine tackles inside forward 50 and Richmond forwards coach Justin Leppitsch said it was a key driver in Riewoldt's evolution as a player.
"Jack's really bought into the team aspect of the game," Leppitsch said.
"Not that he wasn't already team orientated but he's really taking that part of his leadership role seriously and that includes the team acts.
"He's been going well."
By comparison, Riewoldt laid 17 tackles inside 50 from 22 games last season.
The star Tiger was added to the club's leadership group after a four-year absence and Leppitsch said that Riewoldt was more aware of setting the tone for his teammates.
The inclusions of youngsters Daniel Rioli, Dan Butler and Jason Castagna into the Tigers' forward line has injected new life into Riewoldt, according to Leppitsch.
"From an offensive perspective, Jack's got the game well covered," Leppitsch said.
"But from a defensive perspective he was looking like the fourth or fifth best player down there at one point.
"He needed to improve to keep up with some of those boys who were setting the scene. He drives that now and he really appreciates that part of the game."
Teammate Dylan Grimes said the defensive improvement in Riewoldt's game had allowed him to play more on instinct.
"One thing he does better than anyone else at the club is to just play the game," Grimes said.
"He's a natural footballer and in big moments and contests he knows exactly what to do with his body, whether that be to take a mark or lay a big tackle."
Stats supplied by Champion Data
FORWARD 50 TACKLE LEADERS
# Player Matches Tackles
1 J. Garlett (MFC) 5 14
2 T. Hawkins (GFC) 5 13
3 J. Cripps (WCFC) 5 12
4 D. Zorko (BFC) 5 11
5 P. Puopolo (HFC) 5 11
6 J. Lonie (SKFC) 4 11
7 C. Dixon (PAFC) 5 10
8 J. Riewoldt (RFC) 5 10
9 J. Barrett (BFC) 3 10
