Riewoldt adds year to contract

St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Sam Dunell joke with Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard during a visit to Broncos training. Source: Getty Images

Nick Riewoldt tries out his throwing arm during the Saints' Denver camp. Source: Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE: ST KILDA star Nick Riewoldt has agreed to play on until at least the end of 2014 to help foster the next generation of Saints.

Riewoldt, who has just turned 30, recently reached an agreement with the club to add an extra year to his current contract, but hopes to play on for even longer.

In good news for the Saints, who are currently on a high-altitude training camp in Colorado, the skipper said he and several experienced teammates wanted to play a part in the club's transition.

"I am really pleased to get it all done and locked away," Riewoldt said. "I was always signed up for 2013, but it's great to get the extra year.

"I'm really excited to have at least another two years with St Kilda and hopefully more.

"I can't afford to look too far ahead. I will attack the next two years and then hopefully re-assess after that.

"But that hunger is still there to play for as long as I possibly can."

Riewoldt, who enjoyed a strong return to form this year, said he wanted to make a lasting impression on the young crop of Saints being brought through by coach Scott Watters.

"Lenny (Hayes), 'Milney' (Stephen Milne), 'Joey' (Leigh Montagna), 'Dal' (Nick Dal Santo), Jason Blake and myself have been at the club for a long time now," he said.

"We are really excited with the transition of the club and we want to be a part of it.

"We were very fortunate when we started that Robert Harvey, Stewart Loewe, Nathan Burke, Aaron Hamill and Fraser Gehrig played a strong role in our development.

"We understand the position the club is in now and what we need to do to help."

In a wide-ranging interview, Riewoldt also:

SAID he would guided by Watters on the captaincy next year, though he is happy to continue if the club wants him to.

STRONGLY backed defender Sam Fisher, amid claims that he could be dropped from the leadership group for alleged off-field issues.

URGED St Kilda fans to back the team by buying memberships, from which the revenue can assist the club go on more pre-season camps like the one the Saints are currently on in Denver.

SPOKE of his disappointment that his close mate Brendon Goddard left for Essendon, but insisted the club had a "plethora" of future leaders

Pic gallery: Saints meet the Denver Broncos

Riewoldt said Fisher had been a "fantastic player" for the club over a number of years.

"You can't reach his level of performance without being a professional," he said.

Watters also backed Fisher on SEN this week, saying: "From my perspective I see the way Sam prepares, I see what he does at the football club, I see his leadership. I can't fault him on any of that."

"The club has not spoken to him, not at all. When you read that (allegation) in the paper, it sort of knocks you off your chair a bit."

Riewoldt said of the captaincy: "I am 100 per cent comfortable with what the club wants to do.

"The captaincy is a great honour and I have a lot of respect for the position.

"I will sit down with Scotty and talk through what's best for the club."

- with JAY CLARK

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