It’s been a season like no other and Richmond’s 2020 AFL premiership is all the more special for it according to star forward Jack Riewoldt.

The 31-year-old is one of 14 Tigers to play in all three of the club’s grand final wins in the past four years.

In a season that started with a COVID-19 shutdown, then over 100 days of hub life outside Victoria – this year’s win stands out for Riewoldt.

“This journey’s been the most interesting and that’s sort of what you look at over your career and over the year,” Riewoldt said.

“We’ve had some ups and downs and some indiscretions and had some really highs and some some real lows.

“Looking back on it I think we’ll get the most satisfaction out of this one due to the fact that we really have sort of been in a group of 60 to 70 people in enemy territory, away from home and we’ve relied on each other so much.

“To stick fat, stick strong and come away with another premiership in a year like this is very special.”

Before he entered the hub, three-time Coleman Medallist Riewoldt was unsure about the concept.

He feared the difficulties players would face for what was initially thought to be a six-week interstate stay would create difficulties, particularly for those with families.

It’s a situation he continued to grapple with throughout the entire campaign.

“I haven’t seen my family for 12 weeks which was bloody hard when you’ve got a one-year-old daughter,” Riewoldt said.

“I constantly asked myself is it (worth it)?

“It is just a game in the end but I think every single person that’s been involved in this hub has asked themselves the question.

“That’s what good clubs do. They just support people through the tough times.

“We’ve had as many as any other club up here and a lot of them undocumented as well, with the struggle of living away from home, especially families, young guys that haven’t seen their parents for a long time, but we’re no different to anyone else in the country at the moment.

“There’s a lot of people that are missing family and missing being away from home.

“It’s been a hell of a journey.”