St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt is set to announce his retirement at the end of this AFL season.
The Saints have called a 2pm media conference on Monday at their Seaford headquarters, where Riewoldt and coach Alan Richardson will speak.
Speculation has been rife this season about Riewoldt’s playing future.
This could also be the last season for fellow Saints veteran Leigh Montagna, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Riewoldt, 34, has played 333 senior games since his 2001 debut and is one of the game’s great key forwards.
Only Robert Harvey has played more games for St Kilda, with 383.
Riewoldt holds the club record for the most games as captain with 220 and also the most best and fairest awards with six.
He gave up the captaincy last year, handing over to Jarryn Geary.
Taken with the priority No.1 pick in the 2000 national draft, Riewoldt is a five-time All-Australian.
Riewoldt was also named captain of the 2009 All-Australian team.
He came agonisingly close to being a premiership captain, with the Saints narrowly losing the 2009 grand final to Geelong and then drawing the 2010 decider to Collingwood before going down in the replay.
Riewoldt was rested on the weekend as the Saints lost to Port Adelaide by two points and he has played 14 games this season.
This month, his manager Tom Petroro denied a media report that Riewoldt was pressing the club for a decision on his playing future.
He has struggled for much of his career with chronic knee problems and this would have been a key factor in the decision on when he retires.
NICK RIEWOLDT
* Age 34
* Recruited by St Kilda from the Southport (Qld) with the priority No.1 selection, 2000 national draft
* AFL debut round 15, 2001
* 333 senior games for St Kilda, second behind Robert Harvey’s 383
* Six-time club best and fairest
* Five-time All-Australian (captain 2009, vice-captain 2014)
* Rising Star winner 2002
* Club record 220 games as captain
* 714 goals, third-most for St Kilda
* Four-time club leading goalkicker
* 2004 AFLPA most valuable player
* Three-time international rules player
* Most marks in a season with 256, in 2004. Led marks last year with 222. Six times most marks in a season.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
An absolute champion of the game announces his retirement and yet still, 'Cat' rears his ugly head to sully the occasion with some bitter, petty, smarmy, childish, drivel.
Mike
Guest
An absolute statesmen for the game Nick. Above all other attributes stands LOYALTY
Cat
Roar Guru
Rooke's final goal was also a set shot, not sure whether Saints being 'switched on' or not would have made a bit of difference.
Cat
Roar Guru
okay so its still a one point win to the Cats if you now chose to make 2 changes to the game.
me too
Roar Rookie
Absolute champ and hall of famer to be. Should've kept the captaincy and held the afl record. Incredible record and incredible longetivity for a CHF. Won the prelim in 09 off his own boot. All time marks record holder as well. 8 goals shy of Carey - 4 games to get them. Up there with Plugger, Baldock, Stewart, and Harvey as the 5 greatest Saints.
me too
Roar Rookie
the goal after the siren bounced past saints who didnt care. no way was that even a score if the margin was six or less. as you well know.
Dean.R
Guest
If I could have had two picks to start an AFL team, I would have taken Reiwoldt and Pavlich, (not necessarily in that order). Two champion CHF, or power forwards, (more commonly referred today)! Imagine a forward line with these two guys with either going deep forward, or wing or in Pavlich's case in the midfield. How many premierships could these two have had if both had played in Fremantle or St Kilda. Unfortunate these guys have retired without tasting the ultimate success.
Mattician6x6
Guest
For a tiger fan you do seem eager to chase a cat around aren't you.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Is it now a common thing to force out stars out earlier than they should? Like Dal & Harvey last year, Like Hodgey this year and probably like Sam Mithcell, Saint Nick could of easily gone on again. I really do hope this was his decision and not a Tap on the shoulder from the coach! Congrat's Nick on a great career.
truetigerfan
Guest
Because you have absolutely no case, Dan. Flawed logic at best.
Dan
Roar Rookie
I'm not going to argue with you, enjoy.
Cat
Roar Guru
You claimed he'd be a premiership player if one goal was reviewed. You didn't mention half the game being replayed after it.
Dan
Roar Rookie
Do we? Who knows what would have happened. We may lose by more...or we might have won.
Cat
Roar Guru
Goal review the year before and you still lose by 7 points.
Dan
Roar Rookie
Or a goal review in the year before.... Champion of our club and the game, if the lads cant run through walls and win the next four for a chance at finals for the bloke then they don't deserve to play AFL
Peter the Scribe
Guest
An absolute champion player, loyal to the Saints, champion bloke from all accounts and would've been a premiership player except for a dodgy bounce in the 2010 GF. Still think there was one more season left in him albeit at another club.