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Nick Riewoldt among Queensland’s greatest football exports, writes Andrew Hamilton

NO Queenslander has ever played more VFL/AFL games. Few have had the impact of Nick Riewoldt, who must be regarded as one of the state’s finest, writes Andrew Hamilton.

Nick Riewoldt will hang up the boots at the end of the season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
Nick Riewoldt will hang up the boots at the end of the season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

NICK Riewoldt slots into the big three of Queensland footy.

No Queenslander has ever played more VFL/AFL games.

CALLING TIME: RIEWOLDT RETIRING WITH NO REGRETS

JON ANDERSON: ROO RANKS WITH GAME’S GREATEST

Discussions about Queensland’s greatest player have always centred on Jason Dunstall and Michael Voss – they are the undisputed kings of the Sunshine State and among the greatest the game has ever seen.

Below them, for a time, sat Jason Akermanis and Riewoldt.

Nick Riewoldt is one of Queensland’s greatest exports. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Nick Riewoldt is one of Queensland’s greatest exports. Picture: Mark Dadswell

But now, as he approaches the end of his glittering career, the case can be made that Riewoldt has leapfrogged Aka to sit in third place.

Aka was a human highlight reel, a Brownlow Medallist who produced some brilliant individual performances.

But he wasn’t a leader. His individualism eventually saw him fall out with teammates and coaches at the Lions and Bulldogs.

PLAYER AFL CLUB QLD CLUB GAMES (GOALS) HONOURS
Nick Riewoldt St Kilda Broadbeach Southport 333 (714) B&F: 2002, 04, 06, 07, 09, 14

AA: 2004, 06, 08, 09, 14

AFLPA MVP: 2004

AFL Rising Star: 2002
Jason Dunstall Hawthorn Cooparoo 269 (1254) Coleman Medal: 1988, 89, 92

B&F: 1988, 89, 92, 93

AA: 1992, 94

AFL MVP: 1992
Michael Voss Brisbane Lions Morningside 289 (245) Brownlow Medal: 1996

BL B&F: 2000, 01, 03

AA: 1996, 99, 01, 02, 03

AFL MVP: 2002, 03
Jason Akermanis Brisbane Lions W.Bulldogs Mayne 325 (421) Brownlow Medal: 2001

BL B&F: 1999, 2005

AA: 1999, 01, 02, 04

Riewoldt was the exact opposite.

Pick the attributes that coaches and teammates love in a player and Roo has them in spades.

He trains harder than anyone. His work rate on game day is the equal of any bigman to have ever played the game. He is selfless and crazy brave.

He is a five time All-Australian and a six-time club champion. No one in the history of the game has taken more marks than him.

He played his career in an era of great centre half-forwards – Lion Jonathan Brown came along at the same time and it is difficult to split them.

Brown had a purple patch where he was the most dominant player in the competition but Riewoldt’s longevity and consistency justifiably puts him alongside the Lion king as the best key forward of his era.

Brisbane Lions great Michael Voss.
Brisbane Lions great Michael Voss.
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall.
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall.

Later in his career he has shown the art of reinvention playing up on a wing where his running prowess makes men 15 years his junior look pedestrian.

It would take a lifelong St Kilda supporter to rank him among the Saints’ greats but from afar he is also in their big three. He sits alongside Darryl Baldock and is perhaps ahead of Tony ‘Plugger’ Locket and Ian Stewart because he played his whole career there.

Unlike Voss and Dunstall he never tasted premiership success.

And it is the lack of team success that probably keeps him just shy of that pair but it is a close run thing.

Originally published as Nick Riewoldt among Queensland’s greatest football exports, writes Andrew Hamilton

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/st-kilda/nick-riewoldt-among-queenslands-greatest-football-exports-writes-andrew-hamilton/news-story/5959cad490f3ac50548bbf753ee2bf65