Nick Riewoldt makes major family announcement after leaving Australia for the United States: ‘I missed the footy season this year’

Nick Riewoldt has revealed his family will return to Australia, but cannot confirm when they will be back Down Under after their surprise move to the United States.

The St Kilda legend, 41, left his successful TV career with Fox Sports and moved his family of five to Houston, Texas, as his wife’s family are from the region.

Footy fans have missed Riewoldt’s insight and personality on their screens, with the former forward building strong chemistry with Jonathan Brown, Kath Loughnan and Nathan Buckley.

As a result, there has been much speculation about the Saints Great’s return date, and he discussed the subject on SEN on Thursday morning.

“(We have) the intention to come back,” he confirmed on SEN.

Riewoldt, 41, moved to Houston, Texas, with his three sons and wife last year

“But that will become clear in the coming months, what we decide to do.”

Riewoldt admitted it will be hard work to convince his family to move back to Australia, where the quintet is loving life in America.

“They laid it on pretty thick, they laid it on really, really thick,” Riewoldt said, referring to his family’s love for their new home.

His parents visited from Australia for the first time this year to see their grandchildren.

“They were able to come by and see how the boys are living, and it’s been a phenomenal year,” Riewoldt said.

‘Everyone is very well integrated, the boys have played sports and fit in at school. They are a bit new with the Australian accents. It was amazing.’

Riewoldt works as a business development director at a technology company and says the new job has been an eye-opener, even if he has missed footy immensely.

‘(It was) also personally really great to be able to live and experience a real MBA, be involved in the business and be removed from the football world for the first time since I was 17.

Footy fans have missed the personality and insight of the St Kilda legend on Fox Footy

“I missed football season this year; it was a bizarre experience, not just to be completely immersed in it for the first time since I was seventeen.’

His children have traded the Sherrin for baseball bats and support the Houston Astros.

“We had a number of season tickets this year, which was great because the boys got into it straight away. They played baseball to start the journey here, which was great,” Riewoldt said.

‘So they started working on it straight away. They know all the players, they know the batting order, they know all the hurlers – they train me because I still hope they will hold a footy in their hands and a cricket bat.

“But right now I’m losing the battle.”