TonyK
CibbuanoRiewoldt re-signs
May 19th 2009 04:25
ST KILDA skipper Nick Riewoldt has signed a new contract which will see him remain at the Saints until the end of 2013.
The four-year deal ends speculation linking Riewoldt - who is a Gold Coast native - to the new Gold Coast club.
Riewoldt said one of the main reasons he wanted to stay at the Saints was because he wanted to be remembered as a one-club player.
"Ever since the Gold Coast idea was floated and I was linked to it because I was from the Gold Coast it was something that I was almost forced to think about it through the media," Riewoldt said.
"And because I was always answering questions about it, it made me think long and hard about how I actually felt about it."
"Being a one-club player was something that the more I thought about was very important to me."
Riewoldt also said the friendships he has developed during his time at the club played a significant role in his decision to remain with the Saints.
“The most significant thing was the friendships I’ve developed at the football club. My teammates are my best mates,” he said.
“Kosi and I were drafted as 18 year olds together and spoke about playing our whole careers here together."
"I hope that is something we can both do."
“The year after that a lot of other young guys came in – Bally, Dal, Goose, X and Leigh. Hopefully we can all go through and play our entire careers together. That would be something pretty special.”
Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold dismissed suggestions that the timing of Riewoldt's deal was designed to fend off any raid from Gold Coast.
Riewoldt has won four club best-and-fairest awards since being taken with the number one pick in the 2000 national draft.
The four-year deal ends speculation linking Riewoldt - who is a Gold Coast native - to the new Gold Coast club.
Riewoldt said one of the main reasons he wanted to stay at the Saints was because he wanted to be remembered as a one-club player.
"Ever since the Gold Coast idea was floated and I was linked to it because I was from the Gold Coast it was something that I was almost forced to think about it through the media," Riewoldt said.
"And because I was always answering questions about it, it made me think long and hard about how I actually felt about it."
"Being a one-club player was something that the more I thought about was very important to me."
Riewoldt also said the friendships he has developed during his time at the club played a significant role in his decision to remain with the Saints.
“The most significant thing was the friendships I’ve developed at the football club. My teammates are my best mates,” he said.
“Kosi and I were drafted as 18 year olds together and spoke about playing our whole careers here together."
"I hope that is something we can both do."
“The year after that a lot of other young guys came in – Bally, Dal, Goose, X and Leigh. Hopefully we can all go through and play our entire careers together. That would be something pretty special.”
Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold dismissed suggestions that the timing of Riewoldt's deal was designed to fend off any raid from Gold Coast.
Riewoldt has won four club best-and-fairest awards since being taken with the number one pick in the 2000 national draft.
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