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Nick Riewoldt is a champion of the game and is no doubt one of St Kilda’s greatest-ever players.
The Saints forward has had a remarkable career since he was selected first in the 2000 AFL Draft.
He averages more marks per game than any other player over the past 30 years and has won St Kilda’s best and fairest on five occasions.
Throw in a Most Valuable Player and Rising Star award, while playing in arguably the hardest position on the ground, and it puts him in the top echelon.
Despite persistent knee injuries, Riewoldt is as fit as ever and his performance against Melbourne indicates that he has years left at the top level.
His running capacity is matched by very few in the game, and this includes midfielders.
We all know Riewoldt is a star but where does he sit among the other great forwards of the past decade or so? Players like Jonathan Brown, Lance Franklin and Matthew Pavlich?
Brown’s amazing courage and leadership will always hold him in good stead but he has struggled with injury throughout his career. Pavlich is another champion of the game and his versatility probably puts him just in front of Riewoldt.
Franklin’s best is simply amazing but, while he is still one of the competition’s most dangerous forwards, he has struggled with consistency over the last couple of seasons.
There is a perception among the less knowledgeable football fans that Riewoldt is soft, but this cannot be further from the truth.
He is as courageous as they come, exemplified when he took one of the most daring and spectacular marks of all time against the Sydney Swans at the SCG a decade ago.
He has also been mocked by the football public for openly crying on a couple of occasions.
The first was during the opening round in 2005 when he was sitting on the bench nursing a broken collarbone after the infamous clash against Brisbane.
The second was after a close grand final loss to Geelong in 2009 after the Saints finished the regular season with only two losses.
There is nothing wrong with crying and his public display of emotion is a true indication of his desire and passion for the St Kilda Football Club.
Riewoldt will go down in history as a true champion of the game.
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