Toast Nick Riewoldt - leading by example

[Tom12]

I really wanted to applaud the amazing efforts of our skipper to this point in 2013.
I'm sure all of you are well aware of how good he's been through his career, and no matter how often he comes up against adversary he always seems to respond.
I've been thrilled with how hard he's worked to get to every contest, chase for every tackle, and leave nothing on the field every time we play even if people are again prepared to write him off.

It's not just the goal-kicking and vintage stuff on the lead we've seen from Roo so far, but the effort and willingness to do the little things to be the best possible influence on our younger players.

He's a true star of the competition, and while I've always been a huge fan of his, the way he's come out and approached this year has been a real positive. Not only with his leadership, but his play has warranted him to be in the conversation for AA CHF to this point. Even against qualified and quality CHB's, he's delivered on the scoreboard.

Roo deserves all the wraps he gets, and it's great to see him back close to his best after people were willing to call time on what has been an amazing career!

 

[Squizz]

As well as kicking them himself, he leads the club in score assists with 11 (the next best is 9).

Watters : "(the young kids) get to see first hand what it means to be a pro and his desire to want to impact on a game, and try and drag his side across the line ... I take my hat off to the way that he's playing and the way that he's leading."

 

[Tom12]

As well as kicking them himself, he leads the club in score assists with 11 (the next best is 9).

Watters : "(the young kids) get to see first hand what it means to be a pro and his desire to want to impact on a game, and try and drag his side across the line ... I take my hat off to the way that he's playing and the way that he's leading."

He's setting the standard and more, it's great to see. It'll take time, but having someone like him makes the transition that much easier in terms of having the young players learn from the best.

 

[Tragic sainter]

If all Australian was named right now he'd be a lock for CHF.

Best CHF since Carey IMO.

 

[Plugger35]

He's gone about embarrassing people that wrote him off.

He was listed at 47 in Mike Sheahan's top 50 players this year FFS, bet he's feeling pretty silly right now.

Definitely back in to the top 10 players with a bullet.

You don't write off champions and Nick Riewoldt is every bit a champion.

 

[Rissoles]

He's gone about embarrassing people that wrote him off.

He was listed at 47 in Mike Sheahan's top 50 players this year FFS, bet he's feeling pretty silly right now.

Definitely back in to the top 10 players with a bullet.

You don't write off champions and Nick Riewoldt is every bit a champion.

Couldn't be said better. Hear! Hear!

 

[Nutsngum]

My only wish is that Riewoldt could last another 4 or 5 years and make it to our next premiership window because the man deserves one, along with Lenny, so damn much.

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

I've heard that he might only play this year and next year. I hope not as I think he has at least another 3 seasons left if not 4.

 

[saintsrfreak]

Early days yet, but it's looking like he could emulate his 2004 season, 9 years later!

 

[TassieSaint]

The stats

Averaging careers highs so far in: Disposals, Marks, Goals and tackles

Leading the league in marks per game (=1st in contested marks, 3rd in marks inside 50) 5th in coleman, 7th in supercoach score per game and 1st among forwards (I wouldn't consider Walker, who averages 2 more points a game, a genuine forward).

And just for the haters, =64th in frees for.

Just something else I'd note though, it's been disappointing that our stars haven't aligned since 2010 (pun intended)
Riewoldt 2011/12 meh, 2013 amazing
Montagna 2011/12 meh, 2013 very good
Hayes 2011 n/a, 2012 great, 2013 okay (so far)
Dal Santo 2011 great, 2012/13 meh
Fisher 2011 great, 2012/13 okay
[Goddard 2011/12 meh]
Could probably go on. Unfortunate timing? Some sort of correlation? I don't know but it's pretty annoying to think about.

 

[saintsrfreak]

The stats

Averaging careers highs so far in: Disposals, Marks, Goals and tackles

Leading the league in marks per game (=1st in contested marks, 3rd in marks inside 50) 5th in coleman, 7th in supercoach score per game and 1st among forwards (I wouldn't consider Walker, who averages 2 more points a game, a genuine forward).

And just for the haters, =64th in frees for.

Just something else I'd note though, it's been disappointing that our stars haven't aligned since 2010 (pun intended)
Riewoldt 2011/12 meh, 2013 amazing
Montagna 2011/12 meh, 2013 very good
Hayes 2011 n/a, 2012 great, 2013 okay (so far)
Dal Santo 2011 great, 2012/13 meh
Fisher 2011 great, 2012/13 okay
[Goddard 2011/12 meh]
Could probably go on. Unfortunate timing? Some sort of correlation? I don't know but it's pretty annoying to think about.

Joey was 2nd in the B&F last year?

 

[TassieSaint]

Maybe meh is harsh but I don't think he influenced games to the level he has been this year.

 

[Tom12]

Awesome stats, thanks for sharing.

And I do get what's being said, we haven't had the same even contribution we got during the grand final years which is definitely frustrating.

 

[The Punter]

Riewoldt's average marks per game:

2001 - 4.3
2002 - 8.1
2003 - 7.7
2004 - 10.2
2005 - 8.2
2006 - 9.3
2007 - 9.7
2008 - 10.0
2009 - 9.6
2010 - 8.0
2011 - 7.0
2012 - 6.6
2013 - 10.2

There was a clear trend there, and it's been blown to smithereens. He's also averaging 3 goals a game for the first time since 2009.

He has 3 10+ mark games already this year, the same as the entirety of last year (where he wasn't shabby).

Does anyone else think he's possibly benefiting from the rule changes?

 

[saintsrfreak]

He's also averaging the most disposals of his career, it's ridiculous how much ground he's covering this year, one second you see him kicking in at full back the next he's busting his gut on a lead in the forward 50.

 

[Squizz]

Does anyone else think he's possibly benefiting from the rule changes?

I'm more inclined to think his knee is in better shape, evidenced by the dramatic improvement in his kicking for goal.

Either that, or married life really agrees with him.

 

[Saint Christopher]

Riewoldt's average marks per game:

2001 - 4.3
2002 - 8.1
2003 - 7.7
2004 - 10.2
2005 - 8.2
2006 - 9.3
2007 - 9.7
2008 - 10.0
2009 - 9.6
2010 - 8.0
2011 - 7.0
2012 - 6.6
2013 - 10.2

There was a clear trend there, and it's been blown to smithereens. He's also averaging 3 goals a game for the first time since 2009.

He has 3 10+ mark games already this year, the same as the entirety of last year (where he wasn't shabby).

Does anyone else think he's possibly benefiting from the rule changes?

Form is temporary, class is permanent. The man is brave, strong, creative, an aerobic animal and amazingly skillful for his height. Not sure how he is doing what he is currently doing with a body still requiring nurturing. Just an amazing player, amazing captain. A real honour to play with him I imagine for the young guys.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

nick riewoldt is superman.

Iv'e seen every single game in his football career and have never not once ever thought he gave less than 100%. There's not many players like him.

 

[Armo #20]

No doubt he is in his best form since 2009. His last 2 games have been nothing short of amazing. Riewoldt has been a champion for a long time now but his performances so far this year in what is a middle of the road team makes me proud to be a St Kilda supporter. In 140 years of out great club there aren't too many ahead of him. Champion.

 

[stkildathunda]

Random Stat: Nick Riewoldt has taken 10 or marks in game on 99 occasions (from only 244 games), the most of ALL TIME. Stewart Loewe is 2nd on 97 from 321 games.

He also sits in 5th spot for most career marks with 2100 at an average of 8.61 per game, only Gary Dempsey in 9th spot (8.98 per game) averages more

 

[The Punter]

Surely Dempsey would have had more 10 mark games to his credit if they had counted them before 1974. He played 116 games before they started counting!

 

[stkildathunda]

Surely Dempsey would have had more 10 mark games to his credit if they had counted them before 1974. He played 116 games before they started counting!

Im going go with no.... (i really wouldnt have clue, but will say no so Roo keeps record!)

 

[benbanjo]

Career best form... although hendersen is not much chop...

 

[istillbelieve]

An absolute pleasure to watch a champion in full flight.

 

[Jimmy 35]

Career best form... although hendersen is not much chop...

Henderson also nearly won Carlton the game