Nick Riewoldt in reach of Gary Dempsey’s marks record as career nears the end

ST KILDA champion Nick Riewoldt has nine games to show his body can handle another AFL season, but he’s on the verge of an amazing accomplishment in his career.

Nick Riewoldt needs eight more marks to equal Gary Dempsey’s record.

THIS week Nick Riewoldt is likely to become the No.1 mar­ker in AFL history.

The St Kilda champ needs eight marks to equal Brownlow medallist Gary Dempsey.

He is an extraordinary player: Brave, focused, anal in preparation and unrelenting in his pursuit of the ball.

He’s taken marks in packs, backing into parks, out the back, on the lead, pushing up the ground, sliding into packs, on his chest, at his ankles, leaning back, diving forward and often 16 feet off the ground at its highest point.

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His best was a mix of all that — it was Round 11, 2004, when courage possessed him to run with the flight of the ball, dive and mark despite oncoming bodies.

Dennis Cometti descri­bed it as remarkable. It was more than that. The nerve to be able to attempt it. The fearlessness of the run back with eyes in the sky. It almost made you sick thinking what could’ve gone wrong.

The mark against Sydney in 2004 that sums up Nick Riewoldt’s courage.

It was the best of his 2898 marks taken in 329 games at an average of 8.8 a game.

Dempsey’s numbers are near identical. In 328 games, he took 2906 marks at an ­average of 8.9 a game.

Dempsey achieved his numbers as a ruckman who pushed into defence for Footscray and North Melbourne, while Riewoldt has been a key forward at St Kilda for so long you can barely remember when he wasn’t there.

The impending record comes in his 17th and possibly final season.

Similar to another fair-headed football nut with the same self-belief who happens to have a strong association with the black and white and not the red, black and white, Riewoldt has nine games to show he is a viable option to go forward with in 2018.

The Saints and Riewoldt are yet to decide, although it will be the club’s decision.

Riewoldt has given football every inch of himself, but football doesn’t make exceptions for anyone, no matter how gifted and admired he is.

If Riewoldt’s dicky knee sustains another setback, it will be all over.

If he returns to his early-season form, when he took 44 marks and kicked 13 goals in five games, he will most likely play on. But should he?

A vintage Nick Riewoldt flies to mark as Alex Rance tries to spoil in 2014. Picture: Michael Klein

Gary Dempsey takes a mark during the 1979 preliminary final against Collingwood.

Of all the opinions about Riewoldt’s future, that of his former coach Grant Thomas — a father-figure to him — was most thought-provoking.

“I don’t have any doubt Nick could eke out another year comfortably but what is the point?” Thomas said.

“It might be good for him to get another year, but in the cool hard light of day the AFL is a premiership-winning business. Nick and I talk a bit and he says he can go on and I say, ‘really?’”

Thomas suggested Rie­woldt could play centre halfback next year.

Not sure about that.

Coach Alan Richardson has to decide whether Rie­woldt is helping the cause or slowing the development of the team and individuals such as Patty McCartin, Tim Mem­brey and Josh Bruce, who are not playing every week.

There’s the leadership question, too, one Thomas would be well aware of.

While Riewoldt is not captain, his presence and authority possibly means others may continue to live under the consciousness of his umbrella.

In other words, with Rie­woldt not around, would present teammates blossom with increased leadership?

Only Richardson and other club insiders understand the importance or ­urgency of that transition.

Riewoldt has declared his desire to continue, and while that’s OK to say at this point of the season, it could get awkward later if Richardson and Co. have different plans.

For what it’s worth, I have always believed it best to ­retire with a little left in the tank rather than playing on and spluttering to the line — go early rather than go late.

In the meantime, mark 2906 looms in what will be an amazing accomplishment.

TOP 10 MARKS OF ALL TIME

Gary Dempsey (Foots, NM) 2906 — 8.9 ave, 328 games

Nick Riewoldt (StK) 2898 — 8.8, 329

Stewart Loewe (StK) 2503 — 7.8, 321

Matthew Richardson (Rich) 2270 — 8.0, 282

Brad Johnson (WB) 2153 — 5.9, 364

Paul Roos (Fitz, Syd) 2140 — 6.0, 356

Simon Madden (Ess) 2063 — 5.5, 377

Matthew Pavlich (Freo) 2046 — 5.8, 353

Adam Goodes (Syd) 2038 — 5.5, 372

Bernie Quinlan (Foots, Fitz) 2025 — 5.5, 365