St Kilda’s Dual Key: Riewoldt Urges Star Forwards to Seize Their Moment
Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt has thrown down the gauntlet, declaring it’s “go time” for key forward Max King and young gun Mattaes Phillipou. Riewoldt, who captained the Saints during their near-premiership campaigns of 2009-10, admits he hasn’t felt this level of anticipation for his old club in over a decade.
While the addition of experienced players like Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, alongside the electrifying potential of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, are generating significant buzz around Moorabbin, Riewoldt’s gaze is firmly fixed on two homegrown talents who have been hampered by injury.
King missed the entire last season due to persistent knee issues, while Phillipou has managed only 20 games in the past two years. These setbacks have stalled their development, but Riewoldt believes their potential is undeniable.
“For me, the pass mark has to be the organic growth through players like Phillipou,” Riewoldt told AAP at the Seven Network’s AFL season launch. “The recruits are great – in a way, they’re a bit more of a known quantity than some of the guys I want to see real improvement from, like Phillipou and King. They’re the two that, if they can turn into the players I think all football fans want to see them become, then St Kilda will have a really strong year.”
The recent news of King suffering a calf injury at training, another setback though not to his troublesome knee, elicited a mixed reaction from the former skipper. “I was shocked, but I was not shocked at all,” he admitted. Riewoldt, who himself battled knee injuries early in his career, understands the frustration but stressed the imperative for King to overcome these hurdles.
“It’s go-time, isn’t it? Max would be feeling that as much as anyone,” Riewoldt stated. “Continuity, that’s the minimum standard requirement for any player that’s hoping to establish himself as a bona fide AFL star. That was the trajectory he was on before all of these injuries. I want to see him play 20 games of footy – I want to see him get a good run at it.”
Riewoldt expressed deep empathy for King, drawing parallels to his own experiences as the Saints’ primary key forward facing significant injury battles. “I understand the challenges he would be facing, physical and mental, and given the time he’s spent on the sidelines, and the expectation,” he added. “Really, the only answer… the best ability for him is going to be availability and health – that’s what I’m hoping for him. Kicks, marks, goals – yep, whatever – I want to see him play 20 games.”
Beyond individual performances, Riewoldt views the Saints’ success this season and in the coming years holistically. He cautioned against a short-term, win-at-all-costs mentality.
“It’s going to be the sum of the next three years, rather than – if they don’t finish ‘X’ this year then this whole thing’s been a failure,” he explained. “Probably because I know it a little more intimately, I probably look at that more holistically. It’s not ‘chips in for 2026’ – I wouldn’t say it’s an old list. It’s a young list, they’ve played as many kids as anyone over the last few years. The players they’ve invested significantly in, the vast majority of them are players with their best footy in front of them – De Koning, (Sam) Flanders, Nasiah obviously.”
When asked about his last comparable level of excitement for the Saints, Riewoldt pointed to his playing days during the club’s premiership contention.
A Shift in Club Culture: From Rebuild to Aggressive Growth
Riewoldt reflected on the club’s trajectory since his departure. “After then, the club declared an intentional and deliberate rebuild, which I personally think sucked the soul out of the joint,” he stated candidly. “It’s been in that state of flux since… but the last few years, you’ve seen a pretty clear and deliberate approach to do it properly.”
He highlighted a renewed sense of purpose and ambition within the club, extending from the boardroom to the playing group.
- Aggressive Recruitment: The club has not shied away from making significant moves in the player market, bringing in talent to bolster the list.
- Strategic Positioning: St Kilda has been proactive in asserting its presence and vision within the broader AFL landscape.
- Clear Vision: A deliberate and well-defined strategy for on-field success has been implemented.
- Investment in Youth: A strong emphasis has been placed on developing and retaining young talent, with the expectation that their best football is yet to come.
“It’s as excited as I’ve been for the Saints for a long time,” Riewoldt concluded, signalling a palpable shift in optimism and direction for the club. The onus now falls on players like Max King and Mattaes Phillipou to translate that potential and anticipation into tangible on-field success.
