LOCAL FOOTY MRP
RICHMOND vice- captain Jack Riewoldt isn’t buying the suggestion that the Tigers aren’t up to scratch away from home.
The reigning premier is yet to notch a win on the road this season, with its four losses for the year coming against Adelaide, West Coast, Port Adelaide and on Saturday night against Greater Western Sydney — all away.
The Tigers have played just two games at Etihad Stadium this season but Riewoldt said that Friday night’s Maddie’s Match against St Kilda only poses another test at a relatively foreign ground.
“We’re under no illusion that we’re playing at a ground that we don’t play a lot at, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
“We’re excited … it’s good to play away from home.
“A lot will be made about the fact that we haven’t won on the road this year, but we’ve played some pretty handy sides at some pretty strong venues.
“Port Adelaide was in the top four, West Coast are in the top four, Adelaide were going pretty well at the stage when we played them and the Giants have certainly got some guys back that helped them the other night.
“We know that we’re playing a pretty good brand of footy, we’re excited about where we’re at but we know that we’ve still got so much room for improvement, which is over the back end of the season.”
The Saints delivered a blistering performance in last year’s instalment of the clash, defeating the eventual premier by 67 points at Etihad Stadium — a fact Riewoldt said is not lost on Richmond.
He said consistency is one area that the team must improve on in the last six weeks of the season.
“We’re on top of the ladder, but we know that there are so many sides playing good football,” Riewoldt said.
“You’ve only got to look at the weekend’s results — if you’re off by five per cent or 10 per cent at any ground in Australia against any side and you’re going to have your measure taken up to you.
“That’s why every game over the back end of the season here is important, because the way the eight and the four at the moment are looking, it’s certainly going to be very tight.”