Riewoldt has had to manage chronic knee injuries over the past few years but is now fully fit and will make a rare appearance at the Saints’ intra-club match at Moorabbin next week.
“I haven’t played an intra-club for four or five years, but I’ll play next week and the week after barring anything unforseen", Riewoldt said at the club’s community camp in Dromana.
“I think it’s the best pre-season I’ve had in quite a few years. I’m really excited to get out there again and play with the guys.”
The Saints won 20 home and away games en route to the grand final last year but the five-time best and fairest says their lead-up has been even better in 2010.
“We’re in front this year more than we were this time last year. When you talk about running personal best times and that sort of stuff, we can tick that box with the way we’ve been training,” he said.
“Especially the last two weeks, you get closer to games and players can smell that it is just around the corner and you get back into the physical contact stuff. We’re in much better shape than we were this time last year. The players are excited about how the group is going.”
Another blond Saint who will be closely watched in the NAB Cup is Irish recruit Tommy Walsh. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon confirmed Walsh would be used, albeit sparingly in the pre-season competition.
“He has surpassed expectations - where he was from. His ability to kick the ball and really withstand the loads, going from an amateur level to a professional level, he hasn’t missed a session,” Lyon said.
“We’re pretty keen to give him an opportunity. We know he will crash and bash at 196cm and 102kg. I hope he doesn’t crash into our players but he is exciting and he really is by definition a first-round athlete.
"[The question is] how quickly we can bring him up to speed with Aussie Rules? He’ll get a look in, probably as a substitute player.”
