Saints Captain Nick Riewoldt has tonight announced he will step down as captain after eleven seasons at the helm.
Riewoldt, who has captained the club on 220 occasions, said it was the right time for a new leader to take on the role he has filled since 2006.
The six-time Trevor Barker Award winner and five-time All Australian said it had been an honour to lead the club for the past 11 years.
“In the interest of the footy club it’s the right time for me to step aside to give a new player the opportunity to lead,” he said.
“It has been my absolute privilege and honour to captain St Kilda for the past eleven years.
“I’ve experienced a great deal in my tenure as captain and I'm really proud of what we've been able to achieve as a group when we've been contending right at the pointy end of the competition.
“I've also been really pleased by the improvement that a lot of our younger guys have shown and the people they're becoming while we've spent time rebuilding.
“Leading by example has been a key tenet of my leadership philosophy and I will continue to lead strongly and provide support to the team.
“I am truly humbled by the faith shown in me to lead the club and would like to thank my former coaches for their assistance and guidance, as well as ‘Richo’ and my follow leadership group members who have been a great support throughout my journey."
Senior Coach Alan Richardson thanked Riewoldt for his outstanding leadership and incredible service to the club.
“All at St Kilda Football Club would like to thank Nick Riewoldt for his unparalleled commitment, service and contribution to the club as captain for the past eleven years.
“Nick has led our proud club with distinction during some very successful years in St Kilda’s history, and also more recently at a time of rebuilding and development.
“Whether he’s captain or not, Nick will always be a significant leader for our footy club and someone who will drive standards and set an outstanding example for our younger players.
“It will be incredibly beneficial for the next captain to have Nick there to support them if need be, as his wealth of experience and knowledge in this space is so impressive.
“As Nick has said, it is the right time for him to help transition to a new captain, and we are pleased he will be able to support that process,” said Richardson.
President Peter Summers said Riewoldt continues to build on his legacy at the Saints and that tonight's announcement is another example of his club-first attitude.
"On and off-field, Nick is a champion not only of this club but of the competition and this decision of his is yet another example of that," Summers said.
In Round 1, 2016 Riewoldt became the first Saint to captain the club on 200 occasions, and he sits third behind Stephen Kernahan (226) and Dick Reynolds (224) on the all-time list of most games as captain.
Riewoldt inked a new one-year contract in June, which will extend his decorated career at the Saints into a seventeenth season.
St Kilda will undertake a thorough process during the pre-season to appoint its 2017 leadership group, from which the captain will be nominated.
