Grabs the mark of a champion

THIS week Nick Riewoldt is likely to become the No.1 mark in the history of the AFL.

The St Kilda champion needs eight marks to equal Brownlow medallist Gary Dempsey.

Riewoldt is an extraordinary footballer: brave, focused, fastidious in preparation and unrelenting in his pursuit of the ball.

He’s taken marks in packs, backing into packs, out the back, on the lead, pushing up the ground, sliding into packs, on his chest, at his ankles, leaning back, diving forward and often 5m off the round at its highest point. His best was mix of all that. It was Round 11, 2004, when courage possessed him to run with the flight of the ball, dive and mark the ball despite oncoming bodies.

The commentators described it as remarkable. It was more than that. The nerve to be able to attempt it. The fearlessness of the run back with eyes in the sky.

It was the best of his 2898 marks taken in 329 games at an average of 8.8 per game.

Dempseys numbers are near identical. In 328 games, he took 2906 marks at an average of 8.9 per game.

Dempsey achieved his numbers playing as a ruckman who pushed into defence for Footscray and North Melbourne, while Riewoldt has been a key forward at St Kilda for so long you can barely remember when he was not there.

The impending record comes in his 17th and possibly final season.

Riewoldt has nine games to show he is a viable option to go forward with in 2017.

The Saints and Riewoldt are yet to decide, though it will be the club’s decision.

Riewoldt has given football every inch of himself, but football does not make exceptions for anyone, no matter how gifted and admired. If Riewoldt’s dicky knee has another setback, it will be all over.