St Kilda temporarily retires the No.12 worn by club champion Nick Riewoldt

ST KILDA will temporarily retire the No. 12 that was worn by champion forward Nick Riewoldt for 17 years, while Leigh Montagna reveals why Hunter Clark was the one he wanted in No. 11.

Nick Riewoldt played his final match in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

ST KILDA will temporarily retire the No. 12 that was worn by champion forward Nick Riewoldt for 17 years.

Riewoldt, who called time on his 336-game career — which included 12 seasons as captain — at the end of the 2017 season wore the jumper for every game of his career.

But rather than immediately hand the honour — or pressure — of the number to one of the club’s new draftees or another player, chief executive Matt Finnis said that recognising the legacy of the former forward was a priority for the immediate future.

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“We believe, and I think it’s a view shared by St Kilda supporters, that temporarily retiring the number 12 is the right call and honours the legacy Nick has created over the past 17 years,” he said.

“We know that it will be strange for many to see a Saints team without it, but I have no doubt that the day will come where we see the number 12 being proudly represented in the red, white and black again.”

It isn’t the first time that the Saints have taken this path, having rested the No. 35 worn by dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey for two years after he retired.

Riewoldt, left, wore the No. 12 for 17 years and is synonymous with the jumper. Picture: Jason Edwards

Riewoldt was said to have been humbled by the call.

When the time is right, the No. 12 will be up for grabs.

Long-time teammate of Riewoldt and 287-game ex-Saint Leigh Montagna returned to the club this week to hand his No. 11 on to the club’s top draft pick Hunter Clark, and announce the numbers the new Saints will now own.

And he backed the club’s call to put the 12 on ice — for now, at least.

“I think there were some mixed feelings about what to do with the number,” Montagna told the Herald Sun.

“I think it was the right call.

“It’s a nice touch and he’s probably going to go down as one of the top five of all-time at the club, so I think it’s the right way to go about it.”

Logan Austin — who was traded from Port Adelaide at the end of the season — has been handed No. 24, previously worn by cousin Sean Dempster.

Former St Kilda player Leigh Montagna handed his No. 11 to top Saints draftee Hunter Clark. Picture: Corey Scicluna

Montagna wasn’t initially keen to front the playing group to make the announcement, joking that “they’re probably sick of seeing me speak”.

But while he said he isn’t usually one for sentimentality, Clark — a midfielder from Mt Martha taken with pick 7 in this year’s draft — has long been the one he had his eye on to pass the No. 11 he wore for 12 of his 15-season AFL career.

“A few years ago, he came and trained with us ... and I did some drills with him and I remember thinking ‘far out, this kid’s good’,” Montagna said of Clark.

“He was running rings around us doing handball games. When we were looking at getting him in the draft, I asked someone — ‘is that the kid that trained with us?’. I do remember him and was really impressed.

Former St Kilda player Leigh Montagna said Clark caught his eye early. Picture: Corey Scicluna

“I suggested to the club that I’d like to give it to Hunter. He was the one that stood out.”

Clark said the former star shot him a text last week once it was decided.

“He just said ‘good luck and just make it your own number and hopefully achieve some success at the club with the number’,” the 18-year-old said.

“He obviously had a pretty long career, all at one club, so it’s pretty big shoes to fill but I look forward to wearing it for a few years, hopefully.

“(As a junior) I usually wore No. 4, but I like the double figures so I’m happy with that.”

In presenting the numbers, Montagna spoke of the privilege of wearing the St Kilda tri-colours and later admitted watching on as Clark plays in the number will be odd.

“It will be weird for the first couple of times to see the No. 11 out there, and know that it’s not you,” he said.

“It’s special, but I’m not too sentimental.

“A hundred players wore the number before me and a hundred will wear it after me.

“We’re just custodians of that number — we represent the club while we play and we’re here to try and win a premiership and our turn finishes and we move on and we give it to the next player to do it.”