Richmond star Jack Riewoldt burned by innocent umpire ‘disrespect’
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...t/news-story/1fe807a07c18cb55d3ed5fdfae5a70ed
Jack Riewoldt had to eat a hilarious moment of innocent “disrespect” by an umpire in a heated start to Richmond’s battle with St Kilda on Thursday night.
Riewoldt was overlooked by the umpire before a ball-up deep in Richmond’s forward fifty - and it had hilarious consequences.
The star forward was Richmond’s nominated ruckman for the contest, but the sight of him preparing to take the ball-up was questioned by the on-field umpire who remained unsure if Riewoldt was the right man for the job despite Riewoldt making his involvement clear.
The umpire’s accidental questioning of Riewoldt’s prospects as a ruckman was followed by another accidental slap to Riewoldt’s face when the whistle-blower couldn’t remember Riewoldt’s name and instead referred to him as “Richmond”.
After the ball-up and an eventual behind, the umpire approached Riewoldt late in the first quarter to explain his mistake.
“Sorry Jack,” he said.
“Sorry mate, I didn’t see you there.”
The innocent moment left Channel 7 commentators Luke Darcy and Jobe Watson giggling.
Darcy said: “Jack’s just saying, ‘Why do I have to tell you I’m going for it?’
“I think he felt a lot of disrespect there Jack. ‘What, do you think I can’t take the ruck?’.”
Watson said: “I think he identified him as Richmond. I think Jack felt a little embarrassed, ‘He didn’t know who I was’.”
Riewoldt responded quickly in the second quarter by kicking his first goal of the game as the Tigers marched to a 54-29 lead at half time.