Nick Riewoldt

[scarecrow2k1]

I'll back him in to have a good year next year. As for most of St Kilda he had a forgettable year marred by controversy. A nice break and strong pre season should see him doing well next year

 

[Squida25]

Lets be honest, he doesn't have the heart to be considered a champion. He's a great player, but no way he's a champion. Champions carry their teams when they need a lift. Champions step it up another notch when the occasion calls for it.

It's easy to forget his performances in previous finals series.

 

[krisholio14]

He is clearly not fit.

 

[LordLucifer]

I wonder for Nick if a change of club is as good as a holiday...

Was going to write that myself !!

I think it's time for him to go to another club and see if he can help them win a flag. The Saints are now on the way down, they have had their chances at a premiership but missed out.

Lyon will be cutting the playing list and forging youth into the squad so that they can have another dip at it in 3-4 years time.

Riewoldt will be past it when they are up and about the next time so the Saints may as well cash in on him whilst they still can, both parties will benefit from it.

 

[mysainters]

Will get his knee cleaned out and will be back next year to some decent (but not like his past few good years) form.

Hope so.

Watching him train this year only increased my admiration for his courage.

In pain most of the season, could hardly run at training sessions, yet pushed through weekly to try and help out his team.

Hope he recovers, but it appears pretty bad IMO.

 

[melbournemartin]

Very poor tonight.

 

[DO IT TO IT]

he's at the age where most chf's start to slow down, plus he's coming off a serious leg injury. he's past his best and is no longer the player he was 2 years ago.

 

[UrLordUnbeliever]

Has been in a form slump since 2008.
Very average CHF. Only reason some people think he was BOG in the prelim against the Dogs was he got his foot to one very lucky goal that stole the Saints the game.
All Australians are essentially just media prizes - how many times has he actually represented Australia?

The umpires and commentators just love the guy, the Umps give him free kicks just for being in a contest (and it's probably just as well as he hasn't won a contested mark in quite a few years). The commentators write himm up to be one of the greatest players going around, and it's just not true.

I'd said at the start of the year that his leg wasn't going to perform at his peak - and unfortunately that's proved to be true.

Perhaps surgery / rest will set him up for a decent 2012, however the end is approaching on what has bees a pretty forgettable career.

 

[blaze036]

at best he'll have a decent 2012. Maybe its the change of styles, maybe its the injuries or teams know how to play him but his a different player now and not that good, not gonna change as he continues to get older

 

[Confuscius]

Has been in a form slump since 2008.
Very average CHF. Only reason some people think he was BOG in the prelim against the Dogs was he got his foot to one very lucky goal that stole the Saints the game.

2009 he kicked 78 goals. 2010 he had pretty good numbers considering he missed a large portion of the year, kicked more goals than this year I believe? And you mention one final, pretty sure he was BOG in last years prelim also, not to mention BOG against Coll in 09 (5 Goals). And that game you mentioned he kicked a quarter of the total goals scored in the match... so I'd say he would be at least top 3 there.

Hardly a form slump really.

 

[TheStinger]

Who would have guessed. As soon as the Saints go out of the finals, the trolls come out to paste Nick Riewoldt.

Just **** off the lot of you and pay attention to your own clubs. We don't need or want your opinions on how good or bad he has been.

 

[Laser123]

Weird one. Has been a very good player but never really stood up in finals like true greats in Franklin, Ablett, Judd and co. People say KPFs struggle in finals, but Buddy averages 4 goals a game in finals and Tredrea was good in big games as well. That's what seperates the very good from the great.

In my humble opinion, time to probably hang up the boots. Was a player who relied on his athletic ability and it has deserted him since his knee problem.

You're kidding right??
04 Prelim v Power - 3 goals and one of our best
08 Semi v Pies - 5 goals and BOG
09 QF v Pies - 5 goals and BOG
09 Prelim v Dogs - 4 goals and one of the better players on the ground
10 Prelim v Dogs - 3 goals and dragged us over the line after getting knocked out

 

[ball]

The guy has to lighten up. Stony faced on TV, never smiles, takes it all too seriously. For the supporters, for his team-mates - you can be a professional without being so glum.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Felt the pressure of his under-achieving side and played like it this year!
Unfortunately will also never be regarded as a champion by the majority of people because of his kicking for goal. Champions make sure they kick goals, even from limited chances, when their clubs need them most. This guy goes to water.

 

[Harvey_35]

Some absolutely ridiculous comments in this thread, making me think the average age of posters on here is about 15years old.

It's been a shocking season for Riewoldt and a shocking season for St Kilda.

As upset as I am about being knocked out in the first round, I still take some sense of pride that we even made the finals this year after the start we had.

I am completely unsure on Riewoldt, he is clearly carrying an injury, but he is also looking like he is carrying some mental demons as well.

I'm not willing to write him off after one poor season as he has been an absolute star for us for a very long time.

If Riewoldt is fully fit next year and still isn't able to excerpt his influence in games then I guess maybe his career is winding down.

With regards to the captaincy, I am split.

On one hand I think that taking it off him after one poor season is a bit drastic as he was a marvellous captain when in form.

Yet, if he does happen to put in a performance like he did this year, next year, then it makes it hard on everyone at the club, as he is someone who leads by example, and if he isn't doing that, it's hard not only for him, but for the club as it's pretty hard to drop a captain to the seconds, but if his performances are as poor as this year, without the injury excuse, what do you do?

Of course, if he does relinquish the captaincy this could also be great for him as he seems to struggle under pressure.

Lenny for me is the best Captain material, but coming off a serious injury and with his age, he's probably left it too late.

Goddard is probably the better choice, plus giving him the captaincy probably gives him more reason not to jump ship!

 

[UrLordUnbeliever]

Who would have guessed. As soon as the Saints go out of the finals, the trolls come out to paste Nick Riewoldt.

Just **** off the lot of you and pay attention to your own clubs. We don't need or want your opinions on how good or bad he has been.

1/ Not a troll.

2/ Have been saying these exact things about Reiwoldt continually this year and last year as well..

3/ If this was the Saints board you might have a leg to stand on, but in the Main board people can write their constructive opinions on any aspect of the game or any player in the comp.

 

[Face_Plain]

I've never seen a player miss as many clutch goals as Riewoldt. Also Milne failed AGAIN on the big stage.

 

[Choota]

Riewoldt choked in another final? Big surprise that is.

He has been a very good player but his inability to do it when it matters in big games defines his career. Goddard gets a shot from 30 out and I think 'put it in the book." riewoldt has a similar shot 2 minutes later in a big pressure game and I give him little chance of kicking it. And of course he doesn't, while Goddard splits the middle.

St Kilda have blown their chance with what has been arguably their best ever side (says alot about their history). They erred badly in appointing riewoldt captain over Hayes years ago. He should now relinquish the role to Goddard.

 

[Plugger35]

Have to laugh at all the armchair experts sinking the boots into Riewoldt once again. He didn't have a great season but was clearly playing injured with a sore knee which he himself rated just a 6/10 a few weeks ago.

He has won 4 All Australians and five Best and Fairests which very few players have achieved. He has also played well in a number of finals such as our last two prelims against the Bulldogs where he was close to BOG.

Hopefully he can get his body right and return to his best next season but even if he doesn't his status as a champion of the game isn't in question.

 

[Xtreme]

dead, buried and cremated - "seemingly" finished as a footballing force. Would be a mighty effort to come back refreshed and have a new focus.

As long as he enjoys his footy and gets a kick i suppose

 

[Mister B]

Just seems to have lost all confidence in himself. Struggling mentally and when lining up for goal looks like he's that worked up he'll pass out. I just don't think he has got trust back in his body since his hammy and it is showing.

 

[THRILLHO]

My memory is a little hazy but I'm surprised everyone is pointing to the 2009 Preliminary Final as one of Reiwoldt's great games. Wasn't that the game where he got a toe to the ball for a goal and got another goal through the softest of bumps from Lake?

Never seen any forward get bumped like Reiwoldt and then look exactly to where the umpire is expecting the free... and getting it. He knows exactly where they are at all times. Imagine if he got the Buddy, Hall, Carey treatment.

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Club champion no doubt. Not an AFL champion.

Will probably always be remembered for this, and it has been immortalised in the This Is Greatness commercial

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Simply highlights his mentally weak approach to goal kicking. Any other forward would go back, take in the moment, step to the big stage and kick truly. NR didn't want a bar of it and tried to kick the Joe The Goose.

 

[Brissy Bomber]

his status as a champion of the game isn't in question.

What a complete joke. He was embarrassing for the game in last years GF. He's about as close to being a champion of the game as Jay Neagle is.

 

[cammo78]

his status as a champion of the game isn't in question.

On the contrary - it's most definitely in question.

 

[Blue and Gold Blood]

should play on for at least another year. When you have injury concerns and hit bad form at the same time you can look very ordinary.

Get a full pre-season into him, without the 17 year old school girl distractions, and see what he can do. The whole St Kilda side need a kick up the arse and be locked in the rehab room with Lenny Hayes until the new year starts.