Roo’s book tells Tassie tale

NOW that his stellar footballing career has wrapped up, AFL legend Nick Riewoldt plans to spend a lot more time in his home state — Tasmania.

The 336-game St Kilda captain retired at the end of this season and has now released his autobiography The Things That Make Us.

Born in Hobart, Riewoldt moved to the Gold Coast at 9 years of age.

But despite growing up in Queensland and living in Melbourne after being drafted to St Kilda in 2000, he still identifies as a Tasmanian.

In his book, he speaks about everything Tasmania from his love for Orford, where he now has his own shack, right through to how the state deserves an AFL team.

“I didn’t want to write a normal footy book, I wanted to write something different and relatable,” he said.

“I wanted to ... go down the path of writing about the themes of my life, of which football is one, but there are other themes running through the book.

“You can’t help but feel its [Tasmania] shaped you to some degree and I wanted to get it all down. I’m a proud Tasmanian and I’m just glad I have somewhere like here to call home.”

Riewoldt said he had several generations of memories at Orford where fishing, diving and “just being kids” were the go.

“All my great childhood memories are from up there and now I get to do the same with my kids. Tassie has been such a huge part of my life.”

However, he has no plans to move back to the state at the moment.

“I think work-wise, I will be in Melbourne but now that I’m finished playing, I will look forward to spending a lot more time than I have been able to down here. We get up to Orford every chance we can get.”

Riewoldt spent yesterday signing books at Centrepoint before taking off to the East Coast for his cousin, and Richmond premiership player, Jack Riewoldt’s wedding at Coles Bay today. “I’ll be there, it’ll be good,” he said.