In the recently explored world of free agency and in a time where more players are freely moving between clubs like never before, one-club champions are becoming a dying breed.

For Nick Riewoldt, who is set to become just the 72^nd player in the game’s history to reach the 300-game milestone, and only the 58^th to do so at the one club, achieving the feat in red, white and black fills him with pride.

Like most of the games greats, lucrative overtures from rival clubs have always been readily available to Riewoldt. But his commitment, loyalty and unrivalled passion for St Kilda will see him remain in the hearts of the St Kilda family forever.

“It means the world (to achieve the milestone at the one-club). 300 games at the level is a great achievement, but to have been a one-club player and to do it all at St Kilda is something I’m really, really proud of and really grateful for all the support I’ve received along the way from all the St Kilda people,” Riewoldt told saints.com.au.

Injury prevented Riewoldt from running out alongside fellow club greats Nathan Burke and Stewart Loewe in their 300^th games in his debut season, but he still recalls the prestige of the occasions and cherished the opportunity he had to be part of Robert Harvey’s milestone years later.

“It’s a place I never thought I’d get to, but I’m honoured I’ll be joining those guys. I think that’s why it’s so special, because early in my career I was able to spend a lot of time playing with those guys,” Riewoldt said.

“And when ‘Burkey’ and ‘Loewey’ played their 300^th’s in my first-year, I wasn’t out there, but to be part of the build-up and then to play in ‘Harvs’’ 300^th was really special.”

At various times throughout the 33-year-old’s football odyssey injury has lingered, waiting to draw the curtains on Riewoldt’s career whilst there appeared to be petrol still in the tank.

Time and time again, the six-time Trevor Barker Award winner has swatted the threat of career-ending injury away, prevailing through a fastidious approach to his preparation. A degree of preparation that has been etched into St Kilda’s folklore, and something Riewoldt says in combination with a wide net of medical assistance has helped him wring out every last drop of football from his ageing body.

“There’s definitely an element of luck in there. I’ve really always hung my hat on I don’t think many would have out prepared me over my time and not many would have outworked me,” Riewoldt said.

“But you do need an element of luck and I’ve had a couple of pretty serious injuries, but I’ve been really fortunate the way we’ve managed my knee in particular the last five years to get some longevity out of that.

“I owe that to the conditioning staff at the club, the doctors and physios, my chiropractor. A lot of work and effort goes into it to get the players out there every week.”

Ever since Joe and Fiona moved their young family from Tasmania to the Gold Coast in 1992, the Riewoldt family have been side-by-side with Nick on his football journey.

Beginning with Broadbeach and then Southport in the QAFL, before spending the last 15 years experiencing all the pleasure, anguish, joy, heartache and every emotion in between that comes with a life in the AFL. Above all others, Nick says his family have been the most influential people on his football career, without a shadow of doubt.

“Clearly my family. They’re the ones that support you every day, and I know particularly in our situation, we’ve ridden all the highs and lows of a football career together,” Riewoldt said.

“It is fortunate that we get the opportunity on Saturday night to leverage our relationship with football by honouring Maddie and Maddie’s vision; we’re really pleased to be able to do that.”

As the longest standing captain in St Kilda’s 143-year history, Riewoldt has led the Saints for 11 years, and last week joined four other players in the game’s history to captain on 200 occasions.

Riewoldt says over time he has naturally evolved as a leader, adapting to different scenarios depending on the state of on-field affairs. With the end nearer than the start, the celebrated skipper is buoyed by the state of leadership at the club, confident St Kilda has the right personnel to take the club forward into the future.

“I think you evolve naturally given the situation that you’re in. And I think the way I lead and our other leaders lead now, compared to when we were really challenging for flags is probably a little bit different,” Riewoldt said.

“It’s more of a teaching environment now and trying to teach our players to play the right way and prepare the right way.

“But clearly you evolve as you mature and spend more time in the system. I’m really confident of the next group of leaders that we’ve got coming through and I’m really enjoying working with them and mentoring them as best as I can.”