TWENTY years go, St Kilda historian Russell Holmesby documented his top 20 Saints of all time. Before the days of social media and comment streams at the foot of online articles, the list wasn't as widely publicised as it would have been in today's world.
Since then, the Saints have played in four Grand Finals and produced some of the greatest players of the modern era, leading Holmesby to extend his list by five.
This is Russell Holmesby's top 25, ranking number five.
Click HERE to view the original top 20.
Click HERE to view players ranked 25-21.
Click HERE to view players ranked 20-16.
Click HERE to view players ranked 15-11.
Click HERE to view players ranked 10-6.
WHO WILL BE RANKED NO.4? Find out Friday 9 January.
5. Nick Riewoldt ( - )
Born: October 17, 1982
Debut: Round 15, 2001
Games: 281
Goals: 619
Height: 193cm
Weight: 96kg
From Queensland club Southport he was the No.1 choice at the 2000 National Draft and St Kilda's hopes of grooming him as a ruckman and centre half-forward were halted when he injured a knee prior to the 2001 season. He came back late in the year for half a dozen games which was a good springboard for the future. Fully fit in his second season of AFL football he showed the sort of form that justified the huge wraps placed on him.
It wasn't just the fact that he took more marks than any other AFL player or his hard-running for a tall player that impressed pundits throughout the land. It was the way he showed a maturity and leadership in his football that ensured he was a runaway Rising Star winner and then took off the club's best and fairest. He was generally regarded as a superstar in the making.
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He was left in no doubt on how he would be treated in 2003 when he was twice hit in the first minutes of the opening round. He survived nagging hip and groin injuries during the year. In his own words he thought he contributed during 2003 without imposing himself on the game.
Nick Riewoldt kicks for goal in early 2005.
But his cool-eyed commitment to St Kilda's cause was unequivocal, saying that he and Justin Koschitzke would "feel a sense of ownership when we get there". In 2004 he had a superb season, averaging 10 marks per game and re-emphasising his status as one of the game's superstars. In a year where the star-studded St Kilda side finished third he bolted away in the best and fairest.
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Under the club's captaincy rotation scheme he was made skipper in 2005, but in his first game he broke his collarbone and was controversially surrounded by Brisbane defenders. Upon his return he injured the shoulder again. He came back in the strongest possible manner in 2006.
He also won the Saints' best and fairest and followed up with his fourth win in 2007 to equal the club record, then subsequently break it in 2009. In 2007 he was co-captain with Lenny Hayes and Luke Ball and was made captain in his own right in 2008. He started the season slowly as he recovered from a knee injury where he had gone close to tearing an anterior cruciate ligament.
VIDEO: Riewoldt on the Road to 2018
He was stung by criticism which questioned his standing as an elite player. Riewoldt responded with a purple patch of brilliance and he grew as a leader. He eventually ran second in the best and fairest.
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He set a new record of five best and fairests with his 2009 win, but early in 2010 he almost ripped the hamstring from the bone. Amazingly he returned late in the year and led the Saints to another Grand Final in 2010. He was an irrepressible forward in 2012 and 2013, and while his knee was always a concern he continued to outrun half backs week after week and came second in the 2013 best and fairest.
In 2014 he led the young side valiantly and notched his sixth best and fairest. He was selected as an All-Australian in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 (captain) and 2014.
VIDEO: Riewoldt welcomes McCartin via Skype
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An esteemed leader and iconic Saint, Riewoldt has been a pillar of St Kilda Football Club for over a decade.
