Riewoldt produces again for fantasy fans

While Richmond may not have achieved everything they wanted to this season, Jack Riewoldt once again proved himself to be one of the best fantasy buys in the AFL after another impressive season. For the fifth year in-a-row, the full forward racked up 50-goals in the league, becoming only the second Richmond player to achieve that feat in the club’s history, joining an elite group containing just the Tigers’ greatest ever goalkicker Jack Titus.

Appearing in 22 games this year, Riewoldt finished the season with a fantasy average of 76.6, making himself a very useful addition to rosters across Australia. After scoring 78 goals in 2010, 62 goals in 2011, 65 goals in 2012 and 58 goal in 2013, Riewoldt continued his sensational scoring return this year by weighing in with 61 goals in 2014. The dual Coleman Medallist has now kicked 381 goals in 157 games for Richmond, climbing up to seventh place on the Tigers all-time goalkicking ladder.

This season, Riewoldt kicked three goals or more on nine occasions, including an incredible career-high return of 11 goals coming in the Round 10 clash with Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium – in a performance that saw a huge increase in his popularity with bets placed in Australia with bet365. In what was one of the stand-out performances of the season, Riewoldt was simply unplayable against GSW, pulling down 12 marks, and scoring 11.2 from his 17 disposals in a sublime goalkicking display that earned his a ridiculous 158 fantasy points.

Riewoldt took the most marks of any Richmond player in season 2014 with 136, as well as the most contested marks (28) and the most marks inside-50 (89), finishing the season ranked number-one for goal assists with 18 and proving he is one of the league’s best value forwards. At just 25-years-old, Riewoldt looks set to be a regular member on the fantasy scoreboards for a good while yet, and Richmond will be excited about the prospect of just how good the full forward can be.

While 2010 was Riewoldt’s most successful in terms of fantasy points, finishing with an average of 83.7 points in a very productive season, there is an argument to say the Richmond star is coming off his best year as a professional. During the season, the most nominated goalkickers by fantasy fans were Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Josh Kennedy (West Coast), Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide) and Lance Franklin (Sydney).

When taking into consideration the fact that Riewoldt had a worrying brush with skin cancer earlier in the season when he was forced to have a melanoma on his back removed, the 25-year old’s achievements this year are perhaps even more impressive. With his health now resolved and his focus now fully focused on the field, fantasy fans will be queuing up to add the Tigers star to their line-ups next season. And with another year of experience under his belt, Riewoldt may be pushing the 100 fantasy point average next season.

In partnership with Bet365.