Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt acknowledges last night’s clash with Collingwood was a disappointing way for footy to return.
The Tigers and Magpies played out a dour 36-36 draw at the MCG with just 10 goals kicked between the two sides who are expected to both be genuine premiership contenders this year.
The shortened quarters doubled with a lack of connection stemming from limited training was evident throughout but Tigers star Riewoldt is supremely confident it will improve sharply.
“We’re still training in groups of eight. We only get a chance once a week to train as a team and it doesn’t serve as enough time to continue to grow,” he told AFL Nation post-game.
“It’s tricky, but hopefully we can come through over the next week or two weeks and start to see some relaxing in the training regimes. Just to give us a bit of a chance to train together more as a group and develop that connection.
“Every side is going to be in the same boat. It really is bloody hard to train as forwards and then come out and have a connection with the mids when you’ve only trained together once during the week.”
Riewoldt, who failed to make the distance with a late set shot from 40 metres, says it is the strangest game he’s ever played in.
“Yep, hands down it is,” he added.
“It’s just bizarre. You look up and there’s 18 minutes gone in the quarter and you think I’m starting to get into the grind of the quarter, and next thing you know the siren’s going.
“I think also the fact we are getting a minute after every goal is scored because they are disinfecting the ball or whatever they’re doing, it just gives guys a chance to rest. It takes that grind out of the game which I quite enjoy, trying to play under fatigue.
“We’ve just got to adapt and learn. Every side is learning on the fly. Obviously we’d like to play in higher scoring games for ourselves but defensively both sides will come away happy with the way they defended.”
While there has been plenty of criticism of the game, Riewoldt was of the opinion that at least we are back playing.
“It’s not footy as we’d love it to be but I suppose it’s better than nothing,” he concluded.
The reigning premiers look ahead to next Thursday night’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.