Tigers re-sign gun AFL forward Riewoldt

Gun forward Jack Riewoldt has re-signed with AFL club Richmond for a further three seasons.

AFL Tigers re-sign Jack Riewoldt

Gun forward Jack Riewoldt has re-signed with AFL club Richmond.

Richmond on Friday celebrated the re-signing of star forward Jack Riewoldt for a further three AFL seasons, but a couple of key names remain out of contract.

The sixth-placed Tigers are keen to retain the talented duo of powerhouse midfielder Dustin Martin, 22, and former No.6 draft pick Reece Conca, 20.

Richmond will be hoping West Australian Conca isn't swayed by interest from West Coast, while the 79-game veteran Martin has been in dynamic form with 61 disposals in the past two rounds.

Martin would provoke plenty of discussion from list managers of rival clubs if the former Bendigo junior became available.

Two-time Coleman Medallist Riewoldt, 24, joins skipper Trent Cotchin, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin, Chris Newman, Jake King and key defender Alex Rance on the list of those players who have re-signed with the Tigers in recent weeks.

Former All-Australian Riewoldt has kicked 47 goals in 2013 and is third in the Coleman Medal race - four behind pacesetter Josh Kennedy from West Coast.

Riewoldt had been the subject of a large offer from rival club Fremantle.

"I genuinely love this football club and all it stands for, and I'm pleased to be part of the journey we're on," Riewoldt said in a statement on Friday.

"I hope to repay the faith shown in me by the club, and I'll continue to give everything I have for the cause."

Riewoldt is in a strong position to claim his fourth consecutive leading-goalkicker title at Richmond and won the best-and-fairest award in 2010.

The No.13 pick in the 2006 national draft will play with the Tigers until at least the end of the 2016 season.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, who spoke earlier this week about the need for the Tigers to avoid paying inflated figures just to keep top players at the club, welcomed Riewoldt's commitment to Tigerland.

"He's grown in stature as a player, and as a leader also," Hardwick said on Friday.

"He's just been absolutely outstanding in the way he's developed his game. We're really pleased with the way he's progressing at the moment."

Riewoldt has played 128 games including 95 consecutive matches since mid-2009.

Richmond's football manager Dan Richardson described the Tasmanian as an incredibly loyal person.

"He has great passion for the Richmond Football Club," Richardson said.

"We are thrilled with Jack's decision, and like a number of other players, he has committed to team success as his number one priority."

Richardson's comments follow Hardwick's remarks about the balancing act the Tigers face.

"We're probably at a stage now where we don't have to overpay our players, whereas previously when we were a struggling club we had to keep the talent and pay them accordingly," Hardwick said.

"Now we're at the stage where we have to manage our salary cap a lot better.

"We're certainly looking to keep our talent but also bring talent in to help us win."

AAP gab/wk


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