IT HAS been a monumental week for St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt.

From the time the Herald Sun's extended feature on the Riewoldt family was published online on Tuesday evening, the 32-year-old has completed a combined 20 radio and television interviews.

Most of his media commitments were on Wednesday – the player’s day off – but even on Thursday morning, Riewoldt was up early for breakfast radio and television.

Alongside cousin Jack, he went about spreading Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision to raise money and awareness for Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome – the disease that took his younger sister’s life after a six-year battle on the eve of the 2015 season.

St Kilda’s round 16 match against Richmond, named ‘Maddie’s Match,’ will not just pay tribute to her, but also raise valuable funds for the rare illness. Five dollars from every ticket bought will go directly to the foundation.

To purchase tickets, click here: ‘Maddie’s Match.’ 

With the charity launched, Riewoldt’s focus has turned to football again.

The Saints and Demons have both won three games and are separated by just six per cent on the ladder.

When the 287-game veteran leads his teammates through the banner for the 189^th time this Sunday, he will overtake former Carlton great John Nicholls and move into fifth on the all-time list of games captained at VFL/AFL level. This year he has already surpassed Paul Kelly (182) and Wayne Carey (184).

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He also needs just four goals to go past ex-Melbourne captain David Neitz on the all-time goals list and into outright 25^th. One major will bring him level with former Hawk Michael Moncrieff on 629 goals, while Neitz booted 631 in his 306-game career.

Melbourne has not defeated St Kilda since Riewoldt’s 114^th AFL game – the 2006 Elimination Final at the MCG and although his focus has been elsewhere for much of the last couple of days, the iconic Saint’s drive to succeed remains steadfast.

“When I get out on the ground for training I feel like I am able to push myself as hard as I always have,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

“On game day I am as competitive as I’ve always been. I always want to do well and I always want the team to win.”

Providing he has no more injuries and continues as skipper beyond 2015, Riewoldt will become just the fifth player to captain his club on 200 occasions in round one next year, unless of course the Saints make a late charge to the finals campaign.

Michael Voss (210 games) and Ted Whitten (212 games) will then be within touching distance, as will his own 300-match milestone.

Nick and Jack Riewoldt on Wednesday.

As captain, his desire to guide and mentor a developing playing list remains as strong as ever.  

“I think I am leading as well as I ever have,” he said

“I am really enjoying playing with a young group. I’m finding that really refreshing – particularly with the young guys that we have got that are so eager to learn and want to do so well.”

Last year, St Kilda’s average losing margin was 56 points, including five 80-plus point defeats.

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This year the Saints average losing margin is two goals better at 44 points, but anyone who has watched every game would recognise how much more competitive the team has been.

“We are able to sustain it for far longer, which is always a challenge from a young group,” Riewoldt said.

“The ability to fight back as well where if we got in those situations last year, if we were four or five goals, or against the Bulldogs, 10 goals down, that would have been quite ugly. We’ve been able to turn some of those performances around which has been an encouraging thing.

“There is a great spirit around the group at the moment… we are not there yet but we are definitely heading in the right direction.”