Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt has left the door ajar to continue playing on in 2024.
The 34-year-old has played all but one game for the Tigers this year but is yet to decide whether or not he’ll hang the boots up at season’s end.
Riewoldt joined Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night where he admitted he was yet to make his mind up as he engages in ongoing conversations with Richmond list manager Blair Hartley.
“There are still discussions constantly between me – Trent (Cotchin) is in the same boat – and Blair Hartley the list manager and one of our football managers as well,” Riewoldt said.
“We just constantly chat and make sure we keep each other informed because there are days where you go, ‘Oh, nup (I’ll retire). Oh, yes (I’ll continue)’.
“But I don’t know, I changed my mind three times just on the way in the car.
“You just have to be honest. But also that's the other thing … like last year we were probably the last priority if we do want to play on because it's, ‘Here's what's left, that's what we pay you’.
“As I’m 34 and Trent's 33, there are other priorities at the football club with re-signings and making sure that we can get the best out of the club in the next decade rather than the next 10 minutes.”
After Riewoldt didn’t rule out playing on, SEN’s Dwayne Russell found his comments interesting given he will likely have a media career lined up whenever he does step away.
“Jack Riewoldt’s always interesting on AFL360,” Russell said on SEN Afternoons.
“He's got a ready-made role in the media when he retires, Jack. But when is he actually hanging up the boots?
“Last night on AFL360 he kind of hedged his bets. It's retirement season right now.
“We heard Andrew Phillips retire yesterday at the end of the season, we know that Luke Shuey is retiring at the end of the season, and we know that Ben Cunnington is having one more game this week.
“Jack Riewoldt seems to give us the indication that he might play again next year.”
Given that Riewoldt currently leads Richmond’s goalkicking with 30 majors in 2023, Russell believes the key forward still has gas in the tank and said he’d offer the veteran a new deal if he were a club.
Russell believes Riewoldt could enjoy one final season as Lance Franklin has with Sydney in 2023 where he had somewhat of a changeover with the club’s young key forwards.
“There are reports that Trent Cotchin is going to announce his retirement, I'm not sure how true they are,” Russell said.
“But Jack Riewoldt, I reckon they should offer him minimum chips and list him for next year.
“I think he could have a Lance Franklin kind of year next year.
“Samson Ryan's not quite ready. We don't know if Tom Lynch is going to be injured or whether he's available.
“(In Franklin’s case) I liked the fact that (Logan) McDonald and (Joel) Amartey have had to work their way into the Sydney team to the point that they're now playing some really good football for the Swans.
“I reckon it would be good for Jack Riewoldt to be listed for next year.
“Go around one more year and once two-thirds of the year are over, if he's injured or you find the Samson Ryan is dominant and Tom Lynch and Samson Ryan have got it covered then you don’t need to have Jack in the team.
“So, I don't mind the idea of contracting him on minimum chips.”
Riewoldt has played 345 games and has kicked 785 goals for the Tigers since making his debut in 2007.