- Nick Riewoldt clarified why he missed the AFL Hall of Fame Awards night
- It was suggested that Riewoldt left the competition ‘disappointed’ after his no-show
- St Kilda Great confirmed why he missed the gala event on a footy podcast
Nick Riewoldt has revealed why he recently turned down the AFL Hall of Fame induction awards evening ceremony – and the reason some footy fans may be shocked.
On Monday, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson proposed on Channel Nine’s Footy classified The St Kilda great left the competition ‘disappointed’ after his no-show, with the decorated striker opting to clear the air.
Speaking about the Footy Talk podcast, the 41-year-old said he wanted his three sons and wife at the gala event – and the youngsters were unable to attend in Melbourne last week due to junior sporting commitments in the US.
“They couldn’t make it this year,” Riewoldt confirmed.
“They had things that were really important to them. One played all-star baseball and one was at summer camp, which is a big deal here [America] for children – almost a rite of passage.
“If I do it, I would like to have my family with me. It was a non-event, the AFL was fine with it.”
After making his AFL debut in 2001, Riewoldt played 336 games for St Kilda before retiring at the end of the 2017 season.
He scored 718 goals and was a five-time All Australian player.
Nick Riewoldt (pictured left) has revealed why he recently turned down the AFL Hall of Fame induction awards evening ceremony – and the reason some footy fans may be shocked
The St. Kilda great wanted to celebrate the occasion with his three boys (pictured) who are all in the US where the family is based
Premier League success eluded Riewoldt with a Sherrin – but he did play in the 2009 grand final against Geelong – plus both deciders in 2010 against Collingwood after the first match at the MCG ended in a draw.
He went on to build a successful career in media and was a popular analyst on Fox Footy before moving to America with his family last year.
‘It’s quite amazing so the boys are at school it’s a bit of a soft landing for us and something we’ve been talking about for ten years and especially since I finished playing football if we would be able to come here and do it well,” he said in a 2023 interview.
‘I am [also] I try my best not to be an ugly baseball parent.”
Riewoldt’s wife Catherine’s family is from Texas.