St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt will retire at the end of the 2017 AFL season.

Taken by the Saints with the first pick of the 2000 AFL draft, Riewoldt holds the record for most games as captain of St Kilda and has taken the most marks of any player in AFL/VFL history.

One of the games hardest runners, the 34 year old (pictured) says while he’d love to continue beyond the current season, the time is right to call an end to his celebrated career.