Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt reckons forward partner-in-crime Tom Lynch is built for the big stage ahead of his first AFL finals campaign.
Saturday’s qualifying final against Brisbane at the Gabba will be Lynch’s 154th game but his first in September, having spent eight fruitless seasons at Gold Coast before joining the Tigers.
The 199cm forward underwent knee surgery during the off-season but has exceeded expectations, booting 54 goals and proving far more durable than expected.
Only two Richmond players have not missed a game this season – Dion Prestia is one and Lynch is the other.
“I probably thought earlier I might need a rest here or there but credit to the medical team, they’ve been unbelievable and got me through every game,” Lynch said on Thursday.
“No worries at all (with the knee). I feel good.
“It’ll be exciting to run out there for my first final.”
Expectations will be high for Lynch to carry his excellent form into the finals, and a sold-out Gabba is certain to make for a hostile atmosphere.
But Riewoldt was confident the big-game experience Lynch had gained in his first season at Punt Road would serve him well.
“He’s played over 150 games, he’s a superstar of the competition and he’s captained a club,” Riewoldt said.
“I think he’s got a fair idea of what it’s going to be like.
“I did ask him how he felt coming into finals and if he’d noticed anything different. But he’s played in front of 80,000 people, the Richmond faithful have just absolutely welcomed him into the group … no doubt he’ll be feeling the love and he’ll perform well.”
Wryly noting he had been demoted to a support act, Riewoldt, who played a crucial role in the Tigers’ 2017 premiership, said Lynch had fit in seamlessly.
The dual key-forward threat has transformed the Tigers and it was Riewoldt who cashed in when the Tigers defeated Brisbane in round 23.
Matched up on Marcus Adams, Riewoldt lit up the MCG with four first-quarter goals.
“He’s had some really good scalps this year,” Riewoldt said of Adams.
“I got some pretty good ball use early on in the game and some of those (inside-50) kicks were undefendable.”
Premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis trained well on Thursday and looks certain to partner Ivan Soldo, having played just one match in the past four months.