Nick Riewoldt signs a four year contract extension with St Kilda

Any Gold Coast rumours surrounding Queenslander Nick Riewoldt can be laid to rest, after he signed a four year contract extension with current club St Kilda today:

WHEN the star of an undefeated team signs a four-year deal, the possibility of premierships is often the main carrot being dangled.

But for St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt, there was another key reason he chose to stay at the club that drafted him as a teenager nine years ago.

“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.”

Riewoldt has agreed to stay with the Saints until the end of 2013, ending speculation he would join the Gold Coast when it enters the competition.

With fellow Queenslander, David Hale, also re-signing with his club (North Melbourne), Gold Coast are losing some big home town names…but hey I hear Nathan Ablett is playing some good footy up there for Broadbeach, in between a few laps of local high school swimming pools.