ST KILDA captain Nick Riewoldt says he does not want to see player and fan interaction during a game become commonplace after being involved in a verbal altercation on Saturday night. 

The 33-year-old received a pat on the shoulder from a Western Bulldogs supporter sitting in the front row as the ball rolled out of bounds in the last term, which prompted the Saints' skipper to turn around.

Riewoldt then directed a few words to the fan he thought was responsible for the pat in the forward pocket, but singled out the wrong person.

Despite being innocuous, Riewoldt said he reacted in the manner that he did because he was not expecting any contact and hoped it would not become the norm.

"I just didn't expect to get touched. It caught me by surprise," Riewoldt told Channel Seven on Sunday.

"I don't think there was anything malicious or necessarily wrong with what occurred (but) I just don't think we want it to become common that players and fans are touching each other."

The Saints won the clash against the Bulldogs by 15 points and now take on North Melbourne in an eight-point game at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.