Nick returns to where it all started, for the final time.
Nick Riewoldt made his debut at Docklands back in Round 15, 2001 in the final game of Malcolm Blight's short-lived stint at St Kilda. On Sunday afternoon, Riewoldt will step onto Etihad Stadium for the final time as a player. The six-time Trevor Barker Award winner will end his career with 184 appearances at the venue – the most of any player in the history of the game. Only Kevin Bartlett (200) and Dustin Fletcher (186) have played more games at the one venue and that was at the MCG. Current and former champions, scribes, commentators and TV personalities have all paid tribute to the St Kilda champion since he announced his decision to call time a fortnight ago, and they will continue over the next week. After missing last Sunday’s crucial loss to Melbourne due to
Where there’s a will, there’s a way
While St Kilda’s finals chances are highly unlikely after last Sunday’s disappointing performance at the MCG, Alan Richardson’s men are still a mathematical chance of qualifying for September. Firstly, the Saints must win their final two games against North Melbourne and Richmond. They must improve their less than impressive performance. West Coast must lose their final two games against Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide. The Western Bulldogs must lose one of their last two fixtures against Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. Essendon must lose one of their last two games against Gold Coast and Fremantle. It’s improbable, but still a chance. And where there’s a will, there’s a way. Can St Kilda find a way to navigate through the maze and emerge in the promised land?
Saints re-sign key duo until the end of 2019
It’s been a big week of commitment at Linen House Centre. In the wake of last Sunday’s deflating loss to Melbourne, first-year skipper Jarryn Geary put pen to paper on Tuesday morning, adding another year to a contract that didn’t originally expire until the end of 2018. And then on Thursday, highly rated rising star Jack Billings added another two years to his time at St Kilda, committing to the red, white and black until the end of 2019. While Geary has squeezed every last drop out his god given ability, rising from the rookie list to captaincy, Billings’ story is vastly different. He was a schoolboy champion at Scotch College and the Oakleigh Chargers before the Saints banked their prized pick No. 3 on the classy left footer. After an injury interrupted start to his career, Billings is poised to explode in 2018. The 22-year-old has been one of St Kilda’s best performers this year and should feature prominently in the Trevor Barker Award.
Young North spearhead emerging as one of the next big things
Ben Brown might not put fear into teams like Lance Franklin or Josh Kennedy does, but he’s not far off it. The 200cm tall forward has emerged as one of the toughest weapons to contain in the game. After 20 rounds, the Tasmanian spearhead, who was overlooked in three drafts before North Melbourne came calling in 2013, is 4th in the Coleman Medal on 54 goals, narrowly behind Kennedy (60 goals), Joe Daniher (59) and Franklin (56). Of the top ten
