Given the events of the week however, you can understand why.

A frustrated Riewoldt lashed out in the days following the loss to Melbourne, criticising the club's game-plan.

The club threatened to drop Riewoldt for this week's game, as his actions were outside the boundaries of being a united football club.

Saved from the axe at the selection table, a focused and determined Riewoldt produced a game that was reminiscent of his best, with clever leading, strong marking and brilliant accuracy that led to 11 goals.

It could so easily have been 12. Deep into the final term Riewoldt marked in the pocket and looked to line up for a set shot.

Instead, he passed the footy to skipper Trent Cotchin in a better position to score.

Hardwick described that kick as his favourite passage of play.

"For him to actually come back and give the ball to Cotchin I think late when he could have kicked more goals is probably testament to the kid he is," Hardwick said after the match.

The man himself shrugged off the pass to Cotchin.

"When the captain calls for the ball you kick it to him," Riewoldt told Fox Sports immediately after the final siren.

"It is not about who kicks the goals. It is about putting goals on the scoreboard.

"We thought we could put 20 goals on them today. We've done that."

Riewoldt, who apologised to teammates and the coaching staff after his comments, said it had been an emotional week.

"I was pretty devastated with how it came across, I let the coach down, I let the side down," Riewoldt said.

"Today I just came in with the mindset of just trying to repay the faith back in (Hardwick) and the boys and the footy club.

"I am just happy with the performance, really really happy that the football club has the four points and looking forward to playing Essendon at Dreamtime next week."

Riewoldt kicked four goals in the opening term, added three more in the second quarter before another four in the third quarter.

His first miss came at the 17th minute of the last quarter, and he added another behind in the dying stages.

The 11-goal haul eclipses his previous best of 10 and catapulted him to the top of the Coleman Medal standings on 28 goals, three ahead of Port Adelaide’s Jay Schulz.

Riewoldt, who declined to speak to media after the match, is a two-time Coleman medallist.

Hardwick said Riewoldt "responded in the way we would have liked".

"His defensive efforts early were fantastic and then to get rewarded offensively was very good." Hardwick said.

"He got a kick in the backside last week but we move on pretty quick and he answered in the best way possible."