Nick Riewoldt won’t be on Fox Footy in 2023, will spend a year in Texas

You won’t see the Saints legend on your screens next year working for Fox Footy. After weighing up an offer from Channel 7, just where will Nick Riewoldt be?

Nick Riewoldt is putting his media career on hold, moving to the United States for 12 months.

As revealed in the Herald Sun last week, the former St Kilda champion had informed Fox Footy that he was considering a lifestyle change next year.

After further consideration in recent days as he weighed up a massive offer from Channel 7, Riewoldt has decided to put his family first.

Riewoldt’s manager Tom Petroro confirmed on Friday the star analyst was taking a sabbatical in the States, with Fox Footy is supportive of the move.

He will relocate to Houston, Texas, the hometown of his wife Catherine and three young boys James, Will and Teddy in January.

The Riewoldt’s spent the last couple of months in the States where the children attended a local primary school in Houston for a term.

Jonathan Brown, Kath Loughnan, Nathan Buckley and Nick Riewoldt. Picture: Alex Coppel.

They thoroughly enjoyed the experience which made the decision easier for Riewoldt to turn his back on the multimillion-dollar offers from Fox Footy and Seven.

Riewoldt will continue to work with major stadium manager, PMY Group, in business development while he is in the States next year.

His departure from Fox Footy is a major blow for the network given he starred in multiple programs and live coverage of blockbuster matches.

Riewoldt, 40, would leave a hole in flagship Monday night program On The Couch, where he analyses the weekend’s games alongside Jonathan Brown and host Garry Lyon.

The five-time All Australian also appeared on Fox Footy’s new Saturday night live entertainment show Best On Ground, alongside host Mark Howard, Nathan Buckley, Kath Loughnan and Brown.

Nick Riewoldt (right) speaks with Mark Robinson.

Riewoldt was often a guest host on AFL360 and he filled in for Wayne Carey alongside Ross Lyon on Triple M this year.

Riewoldt and Garry Lyon formed a great on-air partnership and delivered brilliant insights on On The Couch and Fox’s live coverage from grounds.

The 336-game player has been a major part of the Fox Footy family since 2018, signing at the network immediately after retiring from the Saints.

Channel 7 came hard for Riewoldt, dangling the carrot of a lifestyle program in front of the former AFL star.

It appealed to the footy legend given he is passionate about his culinary skills which were on display at Channel 10’s Celebrity MasterChef last year.

PENDLEBURY TAKES FIRST STEP IN COACHING CAREER

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury is dipping his toe into the coaching world with a prestigious Melbourne private school.

In a star-studded coaching panel, Pendlebury will next year be the midfield coach working under Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, who is the senior coach at Haileybury College.

Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones is also a part of the junior development football program.

Pendlebury has indicated he wants to get into the AFL coaching scene when he retires and was advised to have a taste for it at a lower level while he is still playing.

Scott Pendlebury on the training track in the lead-up to Christmas. Picture: Michael Klein

The Magpies’ superstar stepped down from the captaincy, which he had held for a club record of 206 matches, earlier this month.

Pendlebury recently spent time with NBL team Melbourne United as he sought to broaden his knowledge of the coaching landscape.

Lloyd has been the head coach of Haileybury’s football team for a number of years, combining with his media commitments at 3AW and Channel 9.

Pendlebury, 34, is coming off another stellar season and is contracted for 2023.

The AFL star and his nutritionist wife Alex recently sold their Elwood home, shelling out a reported $7 million for a Bayside property earlier this year.

Originally published as Nick Riewoldt won’t be on Fox Footy in 2023, will spend a year in Texas