Prized St Kilda draftee Max King inherits Nick Riewoldt’s No.12 guernsey
It was a dream come true when Max King was drafted by St Kilda with pick No.4 and now the dream just got even better — he’ll wear No.12 for the club he grew up loving, inheriting the number from his childhood idol and club great Nick Riewoldt.
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A young Max King would run around not far from Moorabbin with the Saints’ No.12 on his back.
Club great Nick Riewoldt was his hero — tall, like him. A forward, too.
WATCH NICK RIEWOLDT HAND OVER HIS NO.12 GUERNSEY TO MAX KING IN THE VIDEO ABOVE
In recent weeks, many of the Bayside draftee’s dreams have come true.
But on Monday, another was realised with Riewoldt’s number — which had been on ice since his retirement at the end of 2017 — presented to the emerging young star.
“I’ve had the Saints’ number 12 on my back for many years as a kid,” King said.
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“It’s pretty awesome to be able to wear that. I’ve looked up to Nick through my whole childhood, so I’m really honoured to receive it and I hope I do it proud.”
Despite his adoration of the 336-game former captain, King had never met his idol until Monday night.
He wasn’t overawed. At least, he didn’t seem it as the pair shared a moment alone overlooking the club’s Moorabbin base.
“You’re only an incumbent of the jumper,” Riewoldt said.
“And then it’s about handing it over and allowing someone to make it their own, and that’s what I hope for Max.
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“I’m just really honoured to be able to come and do it in person. I’ll obviously take a real interest in Max’s career and forge a really strong and close relationship with him from now on.”
It will be a little bit strange, Riewoldt admitted, especially at first.
“When we got home from Texas the other day, (my son) James went straight to the cupboard and pulled out one of his Saints jumpers with the No.12 on it and put it on his back,” he said.
“I thought ‘that’ll be someone else soon’. But it’ll be great to see it back out there and I’m just really excited for him.”
King, 18, is continuing his recovery from a knee reconstruction that he said is tracking well and admitted there is “a little bit of pressure” that comes with inheriting the number, but he said he was determined to live up to his own expectations.
Riewoldt — who inherited the number in 2000 and followed a “pretty similar path” to King, also injured in his first season — still remembers the likes of Stewart Loewe passing No.23 to ex-teammate Justin Koschitzke, and Lenny Hayes (No.7) to current Saint Luke Dunstan.
And his advice for the teenage protégé was simple.
“Just to make it your own,” he said.
“It is just a number initially, until you make it your own until it becomes a part of you and a part of your identity. So it’s an exciting day. Whether it becomes an iconic sort of connection … like Nathan Burke with number 3, Robert Harvey with 35.
“Those type of things will play out, but to be able to follow Max and follow his career with that connection will be really special.”