Footy great Nick Riewoldt reveals the surprising reason he snubbed one of the AFL's biggest awards nights for the second year in a row

Nick Riewoldt has revealed why he snubbed the AFL Hall of Fame induction awards night ceremony recently - and the reason why may shock some footy fans.

On Monday after veteran journalist Caroline Wilson suggested on Channel Nine's Footy Classified the St Kilda great left the league 'disappointed' following his no-show, the decorated forward elected to clear the air.

Speaking on the Footy Talk podcast, the 41-year-old said he wanted to have his three sons and wife at the gala event - and the youngsters were unable to attend last week in Melbourne due to junior sporting commitments in the US.

'They weren't able to make it out this year,' Riewoldt confirmed.

'They had stuff that was really important to them. One was playing all-star baseball, and one was on summer camp, which is a really big thing over here [America] for kids – almost a rite of passage. 

'When I do it, I would love to have my family with me. It was a non-event, the AFL were fine with it.'

After making his AFL senior debut in 2001, Riewoldt played 336 games for St Kilda before retiring at the end of the 2017 season. 

He booted 718 goals and was a five-time All Australian player.

Premiership success eluded Riewoldt with a Sherrin - but he did play in the 2009 Grand Final against Geelong - plus both deciders in 2010 against Collingwood after the first match at the MCG ended in a draw.

He then forged a successful career in the media and was a popular analyst on Fox Footy, before moving his family to America last year.

'It's pretty awesome, so the boys are in school, it's a bit of a soft landing for us and something we've been talking about doing for a decade and particularly since I've finished playing footy when we'd be able to get over here and do it properly,' he said in a 2023 interview. 

'I'm [also] trying my best not to be an ugly baseball parent.'

The family of Riewoldt's wife Catherine are from Texas.