Nick Riewoldt
| Nick Riewoldt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname(s) | Roo/Rooey | ||
| Original team(s) | Southport Sharks (QSL) | ||
| Draft |
1st overall, 2000 St Kilda | ||
| Debut | Round 15, 13 July 2001, St Kilda vs. Adelaide, at Docklands, Melbourne | ||
| Height / weight | 193 cm / 96 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Centre Half Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St Kilda Football Club | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
|
St Kilda Football Club 2001 – present 197 games, 437 goals | |||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2009. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Nick Riewoldt (Template:Pron-en, REE-volt, born 17 October 1982 in Hobart, Tasmania) is an Australian rules footballer who is the current captain of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was the first draft selection in the 2000 AFL Draft. Since his breakout year in 2004, Riewoldt has been one of the most prolific tall marking forwards in the AFL, highlighted by his leadership, marking ability and athleticism.
Early life
Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Riewoldt and his family moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland when he was nine years old.[1] He attended Robina State Primary School from Year 5 and later became the school's vice captain and UNICEF representative and then went to All Saints Anglican School during his high school years. He supported the Western Bulldogs and described Chris Grant as a real inspiration. Australian Rules football is not offered in many Queensland schools but he made a name for himself as an overall sportsman, participating in the school's athletics, cross country, cricket, soccer and touch football teams at a high level. Academically, he also excelled in the studies of physics and chemistry.
Riewoldt played his junior and early senior football at the Broadbeach Football Club before moving to the Southport Sharks[1] where he was identified as an outstanding junior talent.
AFL career
Riewoldt was the No.1 Draft Pick in the 2000 AFL Draft and made his debut in 2001.
2004 season
His breakout season was 2004 when he took an AFL record 256 marks and also finished in the top ten for both the Coleman and Brownlow medals. He received the AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player Award – The Leigh Matthews Trophy,[2].
Riewoldt was recognised for his season with selection in the 2004 All-Australian Team as a forward player. His first career All-Australian Team award.
Riewoldt played in St Kilda’s 2004 AFL Wizard Home Loans Cup winning side – St Kilda Football Club’s 2nd AFL Pre-Season Cup Win.[3]
2005 season
Riewoldt was rewarded for his 2004 efforts when St Kilda named him club captain for 2005 as part of their rotating captaincy policy [4]. His 2005 season began badly as he broke his collarbone in the third quarter of the first game of the season against the Brisbane Lions. This drew controversy as he was then bumped after the injury by Lions players Chris Scott and Mal Michael when it was obvious he was hurt. Riewoldt had, however, waved away the trainers indicating that he was fine to continue playing, so no action was taken against Scott or Michael.
He was later seen crying on the sideline later in the game.[5]
After a brief return to playing later in the season, Riewoldt again broke his collarbone at the hands of aggressive treatment from opposition players.
Riewoldt later recovered in time to play in the 2005 finals series.
2006 season
Early in the 2006 season, Riewoldt returned to close to his best form, kicking five goals against former powerhouse Brisbane in Round 3. This match seemed to have put Riewoldt's kicking "yips" to bed, but they returned during the Round 7 match against Geelong when he missed a simple but critical goal from 15 metres out. This miss was forgotten the next week when Riewoldt kicked 9 goals against Carlton and took many contested marks. Riewoldt also took a match saving mark for the Saints against Sydney in Round 11, a match the Saints won in wet conditions, and one that kept their finals hopes alive.
Riewoldt topped off the 2006 season by winning his third Trevor Barker Award. In achieving this feat, Riewoldt has already emulated some of the Saints greatest players such as the 1966 premiership captain Darrel Baldock, former skipper Nathan Burke and past champions Wells Eicke, Jack Davis and Jim Ross.[citation needed]
Riewoldt was recognised for his season with selection in the 2006 All-Australian Team as a forward player, his second career All-Australian Team award.
2007 season
At the beginning of the 2007 season, Lyon appointed Riewoldt Co-Captain of the St Kilda Football Club, along with Luke Ball and Lenny Hayes, both former captains themselves. Back and hamstring injuries forced Riewoldt to miss the first three matches of the season.
Riewoldt started the season well, with eight goals in his first two matches.
In Round 7, Riewoldt dominated against the Sydney Swans, which kick started another outstanding year. Despite the Saints missing the finals, Riewoldt enjoyed a better year statistically than 2004, narrowly winning St Kilda's best and fairest Trevor Barker Award ahead of defender Sam Fisher.[6]
2008 season
Riewoldt played in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup winning side – the club's third pre-season cup win.[7][8]
Riewoldt had a consistent 2008 season, coming second in the AFL for marks (behind Matthew Richardson) and kicking 57 home and away season goals (63 all up) to finish ninth in the competition. This performance earned him his third All-Australian selection, his first at centre-half-forward. He was also selected to play in the Hall of Fame Tribute Match, but was ultimately unable to play due to a knee injury.
Riewoldt was recognised for his season with selection in the 2008 All-Australian Team as a forward player. This was his third All-Australian Team award.[9]
2009 season
Riewoldt took the most marks of any player in the league, averaging 9.7 a game and kicking 65 goals in the home and away season, averaging 3.3 a game.
He was a significant player in a St Kilda team which went through the home and away season with 20 wins and 2 defeats.
Riewoldt played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership.[10]
Riewoldt was recognised for his season with selection in the 2009 All-Australian Team as a forward player. He was also named captain of the 2009 All-Australian Team, his fourth All-Australian Team award.
In the preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs, Riewoldt kicked four goals, one of which was in the final minutes. He was also substituted in that game and threw up on the sidelines as a result of how hard he had pushed himself.[citation needed].
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after qualification and preliminary finals wins but were defeated by Geelong by 12 points. Riewoldt kicked one goal.
Riewoldt won the 2009 Trevor Barker Award for St Kilda's best and fairest player, setting a new club record of five career best and fairest awards. He was also St Kilda's leading goal kicker in 2009.
2010 season
St Kilda were defeated by the Collingwood Football Club in the 2010 AFL Grand Final Replay by 56 points.
References
- ^ a b "St Kilda AFL star Nick Riewoldt leaves Coast door ajar". News.com.au. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ Scott, Heinrich. "Key Saint: Nick Riewoldt". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ "AFL 2004 Wizard Cup Grand Final – Geelong v St Kilda". Slattery Media Group. 2004-03-13. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ Smith, Patrick (13 September 2006). "St Kilda restores law and order". Comment. The Australian. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ The Ugly Face of Football from theage.com.au March 29, 2005
- ^ Lane, Samantha (6 October 2007). "Riewoldt wins record fourth gong". Real Footy. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
- ^ "St Kilda wins NAB cup". The Age. March 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "Saints are NAB Cup Champions in 2008". Jeld-Wen. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
- ^ "St Kilda's All-Australian duo". afl.com.au – Alistair Hogg. 10:49 AM Tue 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
External links
- Nick Riewoldt's profile on the official website of the St Kilda Football Club
- Nick Riewoldt's playing statistics from AFL Tables