St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt wants to play for at least two more seasons. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun
NICK Riewoldt is only half joking when he talks about himself as almost "an adopted American".
But if you are a Saints fan, don't despair. He's staying with St Kilda for at least another two seasons and, if he has his way, for a good deal longer as well.
It's just that Riewoldt is an unabashed fan of so much of what happens in the US - from a personal and a professional sense.
Speaking from the club's high-altitude training camp in Boulder, Colorado, Riewoldt explained his passion and how he has learnt so much from his experiences overseas.
"I'm a huge fan of the States," Riewoldt said. "My wife is American and I'm sort of an adopted American.
"I've spent a lot of time over here in the last few years, getting to know Catherine's home and her family.
"It is a great place and they do a lot of things over here that I think we can learn from."
Riewoldt married Texan Catherine Heard in a lavish wedding at a riverside property of her parents in Waco in October.
There were more than 250 guests, with the 95 Australians who made the trip comprising family, friends and fair allotment of past and present Saints.
He has long enjoyed holidaying in the US - with his teammates in the past and more recently in getting to know his wife's relations, as well as the seamless integration of his Australian family and American in-laws.
He is a massive fan of US sport, particularly NFL, in which he supports the Houston Texans.
He even harbours the dream of one day living in the US and helping to develop future AFL footballers.
But for the moment he is hoping the experiences he and his St Kilda teammates - the young and the not so young - are having on their training camp right now at the University of Colorado might provide the catalyst for future success.
"I was ecstatic when I found out we were coming over here," Riewoldt said. "The pre-season can be a bit of a grind and to do something like this to break up the monotony is great.
"Culturally as well, it is a great experience for the group to come here and spend time together, and to see a different culture."
Part of that experience has been immersing the players within the Boulder community, as well as being given access to the college team's gym.
And Riewoldt, coach Scott Watters and a handful of players were welcomed to Denver Broncos training session yesterday.
"That was something I was really excited about," Riewoldt said. "I'm a huge fan of the sport. To be able to get into the inner sanctum and to be able to watch someone like Peyton Manning up close is a great opportunity."
St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Sam Dunell joke with Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard. Source: Getty Images
There have been hikes through the mountains; plenty of team bonding which could prove invaluable given St Kilda's young list; the benefits of altitude training; and connections made with the people of Boulder and the University of Colorado students.
"You really get the chance to immerse yourself in the way of life over here, and that's great for some of our young players," Riewoldt said. "And for some of the older ones, too."
The energy and enthusiasm in the 30-year-old's voice down the telephone line is instantly recognisable.
It's fair to say that Riewoldt is a very good place right now.
Geographically, and metaphorically.
Certainly that has a fair amount to do with his relationship with his wife, which dates back almost four years since they met in Las Vegas.
"Catherine and I are really enjoying our life in Melbourne at the moment and all that goes with it," he said.
Pic gallery: Saints meet the Denver Broncos
He speaks enthusiastically about the wedding, even joking on the club's website about having "little father-sons" at some stage.
"They put on a pretty good show over there ... it really blew me away," Riewoldt said of the October wedding.
"The southern hospitality was amazing, I think we can learn a thing or two about it from them."
He confirmed his bride wore cowboy boots underneath her dress - "yep, 100 per cent" - and that the locals had never quite experienced a night like it before with all of the Aussies in town.
Nick Riewoldt and Catherine Heard at their wedding. Source: Supplied
That settled private life has extended to his football as well, with Riewoldt saying he enjoyed much about the 2012 season - except for the fact that the Saints missed the finals for the first time since 2007.
"I really enjoyed my footy this year and I think my performance reflected that," he said. "And I am really excited about the new year.
"It was a pretty consistent year for me and that's something that I have taken pride in throughout my career.
"Each year brings its different challenges. In 2009 performance-wise I had a really good year and the team had an exceptional one and just fell short.
"2010 brought its own challenges with the injury. And 2011 was a bit of a train wreck.
"So 2012 was really satisfying with a new coach and bringing the group together again.
It was good to come out and put the innuendo that I was 'done' to bed. As a proud athlete, that is something that can grind on you a bit.
"There is just a good vibe around the place. Towards the end of the 2012 season we were close to playing finals.
"There were probably a few games earlier in the season that we could have won, but didn't. Ninth is ninth. We know the other teams will improve, but we are very comfortable with the direction we are going."
Riewoldt said he was motivated by many things this year, not the least of which was some critics who wondered if he was past his best.
"It was good in a lot of respects to come out and put the innuendo that I was 'done' to bed," he said. "As a proud athlete, that is something that can grind on you a bit."
Riewoldt kicked 47 goals for the Saints from his 19 games this year, with his season ending prematurely in Round 20 after a knee injury against Melbourne.
A post-season clean-up means he is still in the rehabilitation group, but he believes he will be right to go early in the new year.
"I have just turned 30 and it is all about managing myself as best as I can while maintaining a high level of performance," he said.
But the overwhelming driving force for Riewoldt is chasing that elusive premiership - for the football club and for he and his teammates who came so close in 2009 and in 2010.
"For sure, that's the thing that still burns, that ambition and that hunger," he said. "We sat down at the end of the season and spoke about the teams that performed well this year and Sydney are just that great model of consistency, leadership and discipline.
"They are all controllables, and the ball is in our court."
And he hopes what the Saints are doing in Boulder this week will take them a step closer to turning that dream into a reality.
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