In a special holiday period series, richmondfc.com.au is taking a head-to-head look at the league football careers of pairs of similar star Tigers, and then asking Yellow and Black barrackers to determine who’s the better player. We kick off today with the dream match-up of outstanding key forwards Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt.

Matthew Richardson fact file

Date of birth:  19/3/75

Height: 197cm

Playing weight: 103kg

Recruited from: Devonport (Tasmania). Richmond’s 1992 AFL national draft father-son selection.

AFL debut: Round 7, 1993 v St Kilda, MCG.

Total games: 282

Goals: 800

Goals average: 2.8

Marks average: 8.05

Disposals average: 14.05

AFL career-high goals in a season: 91 in 1996.

Number of times score 50 goals or more in a season: 8

Career-high goals in a match: 10 v Western Bulldogs, MCG, May 2004.

Number of times scored 10 goals or more in a match: 1

Number of times scored four goals or more in an AFL match: 99

Career-high marks in a match: 21 v Fitzroy, Round 21, 1996, MCG and v Hawthorn, Round 20, 2008, MCG.

Career-high disposals in a match: 29 v Hawthorn, Round 10, 1999, MCG and v Hawthorn, Round 20, 2008, MCG.

Most Brownlow Medal votes in a season: 22 in 2008 (finished equal third).

Playing honours

  • 13-time winner of Richmond’s leading goalkicker award – 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
  • Triple All-Australian representative – 1996, 1999, 2008.
  • Jack Dyer Medal winner in 2007.
  • Member of the Tigers’ Team of the Century (named on a half-forward flank).
  • Most goals kicked by a player at the MCG (464).
  • Member of Tasmania’s Team of the Century.
  • Most total Brownlow Medal votes by a Tasmanian (140).
  • Australian Football Hall of Fame member.
  • Richmond Hall of Fame member.
  • Richmond life member.
  • Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Jack Riewoldt fact file

Date of birth: 31/10/1988   

Height: 193cm   

Weight: 92kg 

Recruited from: Clarence/Tasmania under 18s. Richmond’s first pick (No. 13 overall) in the 2006 AFL national draft. 

AFL debut: Round 9, 2007 v Essendon, MCG  

Total games: 249   

Goals: 607   

Goals average: 2.4

Marks average: 5.6

Disposals average: 12.5

AFL career-high goals in a season: 78 in 2010.

Number of times scored 50 goals or more in a season: 8

Career-high goals in a match: 11 v Greater Western Sydney, Round 10, 2014, Spotless Stadium.

Number of times scored 10 goals or more in a match:  3

Number of times scored four goals or more in a match: 59

Career-high marks in a match: 16 v Sydney, Round 15, 2018, Marvel Stadium.

Career-high disposals in a match: 26 v Gold Coast, Round 21, 2018, Metricon Stadium.

Most Brownlow votes in a season: 10 in 2018.

Playing honours

  • Member of Richmond’s 2017 premiership team.
  • Triple Coleman Medallist – 2010, 2012, 2018.
  • Dual Jack Dyer Medallist – 2010, 2018.
  • Triple All Australian representative – 2010, 2015, 2018.
  • Nine-time winner of Richmond’s leading goalkicker award – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
  • Richmond life member.
  • Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee.