JACK Riewoldt says his omission from Richmond's leadership group last year has allowed him to evolve as both a person and a leader of the club.
Riewoldt, 26, was left out of the 2014 leadership group at the expense of defender Troy Chaplin.
He also wasn't included this season despite the retirement of Dan Jackson opening up a slot, with defender-turned-forward Steve Morris voted in by the players as his replacement.
However, a nonplussed Riewoldt – who is in career-best form - believes he's benefitted from the chance to step back from an official leadership role, which has led to his growth on and off the field.
"I think being out of the leadership group has probably made me evolve more as a person and as a leader," Riewoldt told AFL.com.au.
"Being a captain or a leader of a footy club can be certainly time consuming for guys, with meetings and being the face and at the front of the playing group.
"Not having that part of it gives you time to develop better bonds with the younger players and that middle group.
"It also allows you to push the guys above that are leading the football club and give them a different perspective on things, and continue to push them to become the best leaders they can be as well."
Game great Wayne Carey recently said Riewoldt was playing the "best footy of his career" and had gone to another level in terms of his leadership.
"Everything about Jack Riewoldt now says to me he is a future leader of this footy club, he is seriously that good," Carey told Triple M after Riewoldt kicked six goals against the Sydney Swans in round 13.
And, football manager Dan Richardson said last month the enigmatic forward had become one of the club's "most respected leaders".
Riewoldt, who signed a three-year contract extension last week, said he "wasn't fussed" with the prospect of continuing without an official leadership title.
"Whatever will be will be with that, whatever my teammates see fit will be what happens going forward," he said.
"But it won't change the way I continue to try and play footy and be that leader without the title."
Riewoldt's contract news last Tuesday means the Tigers have locked away their bookends until at least 2019, with full-back Alex Rance also recently committing to a long-term deal.
The two-time Coleman medallist said re-signing had been a no-brainer once the likes of Rance, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin signed up.
"I just love playing at the Tigers, I love playing with this group of guys," he said.
"It's really important to me that they've signed on as well.
"That was probably the biggest thing, seeing my mates sign on – it made me want to get in and show my support for the club.
"It's good. We've got a lot of guys that are in key positions that have signed to the footy club for a long time and it shows where we think we're going."
Riewoldt is poised to line up in 'Maddie's Match' on July 19 against St Kilda in honour of his late cousin Madeleine.
The game is the first major fundraiser for Maddie Riewoldt's Vision; an organisation created to raise awareness for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.
Madeleine Riewoldt, sister of St Kilda captain Nick, passed away aged 26 in February this year from aplastic anemia.
Visit www.mrv.org.au for more details.
