Richmond’s star spearhead Jack Riewoldt has outlined the importance of the return of experienced, top-line trio Brett Deledio, Alex Rance and Ivan Maric to the Tigers’ line-up, after they all missed a significant chunk of the first half of this season with injury problems.

Deledio was sidelined for four matches with an Achilles injury, Rance was out for five games with a broken foot, and Maric didn’t make his first senior appearance until the Round 11 Dreamtime clash with Essendon, following a severe ankle complaint.

The impressive form of the Tiger threesome has been a major factor in Richmond’s revival over the past couple of months.

Here’s how Riewoldt assessed the respective worth of each of them to the Richmond side, in an interview with Triple M last weekend . . .

Alex Rance:  “I play on him pretty much every day at training and, personally, I think he’s the best one-on-one defender in the AFL.  He’s just a guy that you know you’re going to get 120%, 130%, every game.”

Brett Deledio:  “’Lids’ is obviously a class player.  He’s been thrown across half-forward a little bit more, so he’s been working with us forwards a bit more, and he’s been able to hit the score-line.  But, most importantly, he’s been able to have high inside-50 numbers, which, for a guy with his ball use, is obviously a key for us to getting scores.”

Ivan Maric:  “We saw with Ivan last (Friday) night against a really, really good ruckman in Paddy Ryder, and last week against GWS and big ‘Mummy’ (Shane Mumford), that he’s crucial to our set-up.  Not only is he crucial with what he provides with the ball and in the ruck, but also with his leadership around the ground.  He’s got a big presence . . . he really just drives our midfield, and leads from the front.”