But for St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt, there was another key reason he chose to stay at the club that drafted him as a teenager nine years ago.
“The most significant thing was the friendships I’ve developed at the football club. My teammates are my best mates,” he said.
“Kosi and I were drafted as 18 year olds together and spoke about playing our whole careers here together. I hope that is something we can both do.
“The year after that a lot of other young guys came in – Bally, Dal, Goose, X and Leigh. Hopefully we can all go through and play our entire careers together. That would be something pretty special.”
Riewoldt has agreed to stay with the Saints until the end of 2013, ending speculation he would join the Gold Coast when it enters the competition.
Riewoldt’s removal from the market is another blow to the fledgling side, coming one week after fellow Queenslander David Hale re-signed with North Melbourne.
Under an agreement with the League, the Gold Coast is allowed to sign one out-of-contract player from each of the existing clubs from the end of 2010, and made no secret of its ambitions in regard to the Queenslander. Riewoldt’s existing contract was due to expire at the end of 2010.
The 26-year-old is the third key St Kilda player to re-sign with the club in the past six weeks after Sam Fisher and fellow Gold Coast native Sam Gilbert also pledged their loyalty to the club.
The St Kilda captain said he never had any real temptation to return to the Gold Coast.
“Not really. It was something I didn’t perpetuate, it was a media-driven focus. It became really tiresome at times. I think the Gold Coast is an exciting prospect for the AFL but it was never part of my plans or part of my future since I got to the club,” he said.
“Being a one club player was something that the more I thought about, was important to me. I want to stand for something. I am a loyal person and at the end of my career it will be great to look back and know I am a St Kilda person for life. That was something that has heavily influenced by decision.”
