Happy 50th birthday to Tim Rieniets.

 

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From the Blueseum.

 

Career : 1990 – 1991
Debut : Round 6, 1990 vs North Melbourne, aged 24 years, 21 days
Carlton Player No. 968
Games : 24
Goals : 6
Last Game : Round 18, 1991 vs Brisbane Bears, aged 25 years, 97 days
Guernsey No. 36
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 79 kg (12 stone, 6 lbs.)
DOB : 14 April, 1966

A smooth-running ruck-rover with impressive disposal skills, Tim Rieniets was a standout junior at Wangaratta Rovers when he was recruited by North Melbourne in 1985. He spent two seasons at Arden St. with the Kangas’ Under 19 (32 games) and Reserves (13 games) squads without breaking into the senior team, then crossed to Coburg in the VFA to became one of the stars of the competition.

Rieniets was an outstanding contributor in Coburg’s back-to-back Premiership triumphs over Williamstown in 1988-89, leading his captain, VFA legend Phil Cleary, to say later that Rieniets ‘played like he was superhuman’ in both Grand Finals. Largely because of those two best on ground performances, Carlton selected Tim at pick 27 in the 1990 pre-season draft, along with his team-mate Adrian Bassett.

The Blues’ judgement seemed sound at first, especially when Reiniets came off the interchange bench and goaled with his first kick – and perhaps his second but not even the player himself remembers! – in his senior debut against his former club in round 6, 1990 at Princes Park. He kept his place in the side for 11 more matches after that, although by late in the season it was obvious that his future lay in defence. Still, he had shown promise in his debut year, which ended on a high when he played across half-back in Carlton’s Reserves team that scored an upset victory over Melbourne seconds in the curtain-raiser at the MCG on Grand Final day.

But after a shocking loss by Carlton in round 18 of that forgettable year, and after suffering a partial tear in his ACL, Reiniets was not to be seen again in the Carlton seniors (although he did play Reserves in 1992 after a full pre-season). Thereafter he headed to back to VFA club Coburg for a season, then in 1993 played for rival VFA club Werribee with his ex-Blues team-mate Dom Fotia.

Rieniets was born in Creswick and educated at Galen College, Wangaratta. Outside of football, he was a clerk with the Melbourne City Council.

Career Highlights

1990 – Reserves Premiership Player