Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has expressed his admiration for Jack Riewoldt in the wake of the star Tiger forward’s excellent first-up 2016 display in last Saturday’s NAB Challenge match against Hawthorn at Beaconsfield.

Riewoldt produced a best-on-ground performance, with 10 marks, 10 score involvements, five score assists and two goals in the Tigers’ 71-point win.

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“He’s growing as a player, he’s growing as a person, and he’s growing as a leader,” Cotchin told Channel Nine

“That’s what we love about Jack . . . he’s continually getting better.”

Cotchin sees Riewoldt as an inspirational figure at Tigerland, who sets a fine example for the rest of the playing group to follow.

“The challenge is for all of us to play the way he does consistently,” Cotchin said.

“You see some of his antics on-field, and people question him every now and then.  But, deep down, it comes back to the love he has for our football club.”