Few people have enjoyed a greater insight into Nick Riewoldt’s incredible resilience than the St Kilda medical team.
Riewoldt’s ability to push his body to the limit and overcome injuries is the stuff of legend.
The infamous knee, the shoulders, and of course the ‘catastrophic’ hamstring injury in 2010, have all been major plot points in a journey spanning 17 season and countless hours on the physio table.
While fans,
Wallis joined St Kilda in 2007 and estimates he’s had the retiring great on his table upwards of 1,000 times over the years.
“During the season we’d have Nick on the plinth (physio table) at least three times a week, while it's also pretty regular during the pre-season,” Wallis said.
“Everyone knows about the knees, and will remember the hamstring, but over the years there has been also a host of more typical football injuries.”
“The mental resilience to endure, to overcome those injuries, and deal with the public scrutiny is something I will always associate with Nick.
“For someone who was restricted to modified pre-season programs and training once a week during the season, what he has been able to achieve is remarkable.
“He is a phenomenal athlete and phenomenal in the way he prepares.”
While Wallis still shakes his head at how the 34-year-old endured the weekly visits to have his knee drained during 2012 and 2013 seasons, it’s the recovery from the ‘catastrophic’ hamstring injury that stands out the most.
“At the time, it was a rare injury that no one had operated on before. Coincidently, Josh Gibson (Hawthorn) suffered the same injury the next day and underwent the same surgery,” he said.
“To be able to get back that year and be a part of the finals campaign was an indication of how dedicated and diligent Nick was to his recovery.”
Wallis also smiles at the memory of a particular match in Adelaide pitted against All-Australian defender Daniel Talia.
“Nick tore what is commonly referred to as the ‘monkey muscle’ (smaller calf muscle) pretty early on and I think he actually told Talia he’d done it," Wallis recalled.
“He must have thought he was in for an easy day and started running off Nick at every opportunity.
“He then got a big of a shock when Nick returned to the field after some treatment a few minutes later like nothing had happened.
“It was soon back to chasing Nick up and down the wing.”
Along with Wallis, doctors Ian Stone and Tim Barbour have also been constants in Riewoldt’s career, as has his own personal chiropractor Azim Hosseini.
“Over the years you get to know the guys really well and we will all miss having Nick the person around as much as Nick the footballer,” Wallis said.
