Nick Riewoldt might not have won a premiership in three visits to the big dance, but he will retire without any regrets and with the knowledge he left no stone unturned in his pursuit of the ultimate success.
The champion forward came within a different bounce of the ball from hoisting St Kilda’s second premiership above his head in 2010, a year after the Saints fell agonisingly short against Geelong.
Riewoldt, 34, announced his decision to retire at the end of the season at a press conference at Linen House Centre on Monday and said he will depart the game knowing he could not have squeezed anything more from a career that has spanned 17 seasons.
“That’s an aspect my career that I’ve beaten myself up over at various stages. But it’s not until I think really you take inventory of everything that’s occurred and ask yourself the question,” Riewoldt said at his retirement press conference on Monday.
“The reason I’m content is going through those experiences what more could we have done? Personally, could I have trained any harder? Could I have pushed anymore? Could I have prepared any better? The answer is no within those.
“Until they start giving away premiership medals I’m content knowing that we gave it an absolute crack and ultimately fell short.
“We did our part, we took the emotional risk and I certainly took the emotional risk to be great. And wins, losses, mistakes are all part of your football career and I can cop that we gave it everything that we could and fell just short.”
After making his debut in 2011 under AFL Hall of Fame legend Malcolm Blight, who was sacked in the days after, Riewoldt has also been coached by Grant Thomas, Ross Lyon, Scott Watters and Alan Richardson.
The six-time Trevor Barker Award winner – the most of any player in St Kilda’s history – lauded Richardson, Thomas and Lyon for the contributions they made at different stages of his career.
“The contribution that you’ve (Richardson) made to the football club and the support that you’ve shown me over the journey, I’m really grateful for,” Riewoldt said.
“Grant Thomas got me at a really young age and instilled in me so many great values and beliefs that have carried me throughout my entire career.
“We were able to reach some amazing heights with Ross. I’m really grateful for the contribution he made to this football club and to me personally; I thank him for his friendship and support.”
Riewoldt also singled out former St Kilda Captain and current Senior Assistant Coach, Aaron Hamill, for taking him under his wing when he first walked in the door as an 18-year-old No. 1 draft pick from the sunshine state.
“Aaron Hamill had such a strong impact on me at a really young age when I first arrived at the club,” he said.
“Aaron’s a guy that put his arm around me and basically taught me what it was to be an AFL footballer; the way to go about it and the way to approach it. So thanks Sammy for having such a profound impact on me."
