ST KILDA and Richmond will lobby the AFL to again stage Maddie's Match to raise funds and awareness for Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome.
This season's round 16 clash between the clubs was the first official fundraiser for Maddie Riewoldt's Vision (MRV); an organisation established in the memory of Nick Riewoldt's younger sister.
Madeleine Riewoldt passed away in February this year after a five-year battle with aplastic anaemia, a Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome.
The Saints and Tigers joined forced in July, with the Sunday twilight Maddie's Match staged four weeks after the launch of the organisation.
It raised $314,000 and drew a record crowd of 45,722 to Etihad Stadium, with fans turning out in purple – Maddie's favourite colour - to show their support. MRV raised a remarkable $750,000 in just 16 weeks.
The response from supporters has encouraged all involved to push for a repeat event in the 2016 fixture.
"We'll be pushing as hard as possible, and I know the football clubs will be pushing as hard as possible," Jack Riewoldt said on Wednesday at Royal Melbourne Hospital, where Maddie spent the last seven months of her life.
"We'd love for the AFL to get behind us and continue to make this an annual event.
"I think Etihad Stadium, who were fantastic hosts for us on that day, are keen to have us as well.
"We'll continue to hopefully push the AFL and continue to work on Madeleine's legacy with the game year in year out."
Riewoldt said this season's game, which was won by the Tigers, left him emotionally drained.
But the Tiger forward said his family remained overwhelmed by the support of the footballing community in a year that featured several personal tragedies.
"The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following the match was probably not about physically recovering, it was more about mentally recovering from the build up," he said.
"To be involved in something like that and pay tribute to Madeleine's life and legacy was very special, and something I know myself and Nick and both of our clubs are keen to continue."
Nick wasn't at Wednesday's revelation of the funds MRV has raised to date, and the added announcement that the organisation will financially support the only National Aplastic Anaemia Registry in the world with an initial research grant of $80,000.
His parents, Joe and Fiona, were there, as were his brother Alex, cousin Jack, Maddie's doctor Professor David Ritchie, and chairman of MRV, Jarrod Nation.
However, Nick recorded a message before leaving for his off-season break in the US and said while it had been a difficult four months since the organisation started, he was buoyed by what they'd achieved so far.
"There are days when it's hard to get out of bed for all of us, days where you just want to pick up the phone and call Mads and talk to her," Nick said.
"Every day I just miss her so much, I miss her terribly.
"I guess one positive throughout the whole grieving process for us is the work we've been able to do with the Vision and the support we've received from all walks of life.
"Our plan was to raise awareness to be begin with and I think we've well and truly done that.
"Now it's about raising money and raising funds."
Alex Riewoldt said Maddie, who wanted to become an ambassador for Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome before she died, would be "really, really proud" of what MRV had achieved already.
"I think this was the best way we could honour her, and ensure her legacy. She'd be over the moon," Alex said.
"The end goal is to find a cure … this is the first step towards that. I don't think we'll stop until we get there."
