The image of the star full-forward up on stage with The Killers,belting outMr Brightside with lead singer Brandon Flowers,captures the elation of the drought-breaking 2017 flag.
But Riewoldt also recalls the pure joy of round 23,2014,when the Tigers were on an eight-game winning streak chasing a finals spot after being booted out in an elimination final in 2013. Former captain Chris Newman was playing his 250th game against the top-of-the-table Swans in Sydney.
“I’ll never forget that day,” Riewoldt said on Tuesday. “I’ll never forget that little patch that[Swans defender] Ted Richards slipped on trying to catch ‘Dus’[Dustin Martin] and ‘Dus’ kicked the sealer,and to win for someone like ‘Newy’ was really important for us and important for me.
“Outside of finals,that’s probably my favourite memory.”
Riewoldt was the last player to touch the football in that match,booting it into the sky as the siren went to signal a three-point win.
The Tigers lost the elimination final to Port Adelaide,and lost a third straight elimination final in 2015 to North Melbourne,before finishing outside the eight in 2016,with Richmond’s future under coach Damien Hardwick at a crossroads.