Players making sizeable contributions well into their 30s has been one of the biggest trends to emerge in the first quarter of 2016. And there is no better example of that than St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt.
North Melbourne had six key players in that age demographic on Sunday and two who are only weeks away from entering it. Whilst the Saints’ key contributors in the narrow loss to the Kangaroos: Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster are all over that hill. At 29, Sam Gilbert isn’t far away either.
St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson spent time in his post-match press conference praising the contribution of his key defenders who limited the influence of one of the most potent attacking ensembles in the league, before lauding the contribution of the Saints’ skipper once again this season.
Despite being obviously nearer to the end than the beginning, Riewoldt continues to amaze in 2016. He produced another masterclass against the Kangaroos and is likely to feature prominently in the votes. Brownlow, Coaches Association and Trevor Barker Award.
Across seven rounds, the 33-year-old is averaging more disposals (20.0) and more marks (11.3) than at any other time in his distinguished career. Dividing his time between the wing and up forward, Riewoldt has booted 18.5, with his precision in front of goal keeping St Kilda in games at different stages this season.
“He’s playing good footy. He was midfield and forward. The second-half we basically had to play Nick forward. He’s in good form, isn’t he?” Richardson said at a post-match press conference on Sunday.
“There’s a bit of a trend across the competition isn’t there of guys – they’ve [North Melbourne] got a team full of them – that are at that age and are still playing strong footy.
“I reckon the way the clubs and their sports science department are looking after those players it should be no surprise.”
Richardson revealed the six-time Trevor Barker Award winner has been invigorated by the development of youth at Linen House Centre, with the likes of Jack Billings, Jack Newnes, Seb Ross and Luke Dunstan urging him to keep going in the twilight of his career. And potentially into a 17th season in 2017.
“It comes down to whether he’s playing strong footy and he’s still has the want to play and to lead and to challenge,” Richardson said.
“And these are Nick’s words and not just mine because it suits our story – he’s been really invigorated by what he sees, the young guys coming through: Ross and Dunstan and Billings.
“That positive performance by some of those young guys has certainly got our skipper excited and wanting to be part of that. It’s going to be a year by year thing for Nick.”
