Nick Riewoldt has demonstrated year after year that he has the qualities of a true champion leader.
He represents the skill, professionalism, fitness, competitive instincts and nurturing required by such a position.
His ability to demonstrate these on a weekly basis to teammates, the competition and St. Kilda fans over the course of his career has him among the AFL’s elite.
Riewoldt has crafted his career from his outstanding marking ability. He is arguably the best of the modern era and has demonstrated this by leading the competition in this category on five occasions.
His use of his fitness base to become one of the most dominant forwards of his era was pioneering for the modern aerobically based footballer.
There is fit and then there is ‘Riewoldt fit’. He runs himself ragged to mark each ball. He will run through any part of the field, but particularly pushing up the ground, to take a mark.
His famous lead up, double back and lead up again has left many a defender gasping for air. A notable fact is that part of his pre-game routine involves covering many kilometres of running as well.
To play as he has and reach the illustrious 300-game mark speaks volumes of his preparation and professionalism in keeping his body in optimal condition.
His teammates have benefitted from the knowledge they had a competitor willing to run himself beyond exhaustion for the team’s cause. Seeing him hands on head sucking in air is a common sight.
If he wasn’t already exhausted he was throwing himself into marking duels with reckless abandon. The famous running back with the flight mark against Sydney in 2004 stands atop his many marks of this nature and has come to signify all that encapsulates Riewoldt: courage, effort, athleticism and skill.
He often had to take on multiple opponents on his own and would often do this to the benefit of the team. There are marks and acts that make your teammates walk taller and Riewoldt made a trademark out of playing his football this way.
The qualities he has displayed over his career are the ideal learning tool for the young Saints and they should enjoy every aspect of it as Riewoldt leads them through this phase of their build to their next premiership.
Over 200 games as captain, his invaluable experience is something for this young group to absorb. He has come full circle at the Saints having begun as young draftee in a club rebuilding.
He will no doubt will be relaying the advice he received from Stewart Loewe, Aaron Hamill and Fraser Gehrig along with his own personal knowledge to inform the next generation of Saints. As they develop they will see that the way in which Riewoldt leads and this can only enhance them in a positive way.
Riewoldt has, for a generation of Saints fans, been a shining light. He leads St Kilda out this weekend fully deserving every tribute that comes his way this week as he prepares for game number 300.
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