When Nick Riewoldt backs out of his driveway or jumps on the team bus on the way to a game, he always calls his old man, Joe. It’s something he has always done and something that might only have one more call to go.
They don’t talk too much about the two hours ahead; they touch base and continue a tradition that has provided the St Kilda champion with a comforting distraction before he rolls up his sleeves and gets to work.
It didn’t start ahead of Riewoldt’s debut midway through 2001, but only because of circumstances. Back then, Joe and Nick’s Mum Fiona still lived on the Gold Coast, and a delayed flight caused the pair to miss the first half of Nick’s first game.
But from Nick’s second game onwards, father and son started a tradition that has lasted the duration of his 17-year career.
“From his second game onwards, when Nick either got in his car to go to the game or if he was away, just as he got on the team bus, he would give me a call,” Riewoldt told saints.com.au ahead of what could be his sons final game on Sunday.
“I think other than that first game, we missed probably three or four weeks, which is not bad out of 335 games.
“Invariably the discussion would come back to football, but it was usually just about what had happened that week in our lives or how we were both going.
“It wasn’t really game related; I never used to say ‘are you going to win? Or who are you playing
“We spoke about it not long ago and said it’s amazing we’ve been able to keep up that tradition. I think it was perhaps a distraction for him, a moment where he didn’t have to think about the game.”
Joe Riewoldt looks on at his son's retirement press conference at Linen House Centre earlier this month.
After coaching Nick in his first game back at Sandy Bay in Hobart, Joe can’t believe his son’s career is nearly over.
On the eve of the chapter closing, Joe said his family is extremely grateful for the experience and the fact the No. 12 has played his entire career in red, white and black.
“It is hard to believe it’s over. But we as a family have been so fortunate that he’s played for so long,” Riewoldt said.
“Players often only get four or five years or six or seven or ten which is an outstanding number of years to play.
“To have 17 years of being able to watch your son, brother play, we’re extraordinarily fortunate. We’ve enjoyed it immensely.
“We’re very happy that he’s been a one club player, which is only too rare today. I wouldn’t have liked to have seen him join another club; I’m a St Kilda person and we’re a St Kilda family. So it’s been ideal; it’s been a great run.”
