Few AFL careers have overlapped with as much family geography as Nick Riewoldt’s. The St Kilda legend packed up his young family and moved to Texas — then, just a couple of years later, came back, citing frustrations with how junior sport works on both sides of the Pacific.
Full name: Nicholas Riewoldt ·
Born: 17 October 1982 ·
Height: 193 cm ·
AFL games (St Kilda): 336 ·
Career goals: 718 ·
All-time VFL/AFL marks record: Yes
Quick snapshot
- Drafted No. 1 by St Kilda in 2000 (AFL official site)
- Played 336 games for St Kilda, kicked 718 goals (Wikipedia)
- Holds all-time VFL/AFL marks record (AFL official site)
- Moved to Houston, Texas in January 2023 (7NEWS)
- Exact date of the family’s return to Australia in 2024–25 (Radio Industry News)
- Whether the move back is permanent or temporary (Radio Industry News)
- Full scope of his junior sport criticisms beyond not keeping score (Radio Industry News)
- Resumes high-profile media role in Melbourne for 2025 (Radio Industry News)
- Children re-entering Australian junior sport system (Radio Industry News)
- Continued public commentary on sport culture differences (Radio Industry News)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 October 1982 |
| Place of birth | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| AFL debut | 2001 for St Kilda |
| Retirement | 2017 |
| Spouse | Catherine Hoolahan (m. 2015) |
| Number of children | 2 |
The table above condenses the key biographical markers that frame Riewoldt’s career and family timeline.
Why Did Nick Riewoldt Leave Australia?
What prompted his move overseas?
In December 2022, Riewoldt surprised the Australian football world by announcing he would relocate to Houston, Texas with his family. 7NEWS (Australian news outlet) reported that the move was described as a 12-month commitment, with discussions about him missing part of the 2023 AFL season from his media roles. The decision was driven by family reasons: his wife Catherine’s family is from Houston.
Riewoldt stepped away from his media commitments in Australia and moved to Texas in January 2023 with his wife and three sons — James, Will and Teddy, according to the same 7NEWS report. By October 2023, he told PerthNow (Western Australian news site) that his family had taken to the American lifestyle and that his children were playing baseball.
“I missed the footy season,” Riewoldt told PerthNow, describing the U.S. experience as positive for his children, who were “strongly engaged” with baseball.
Riewoldt traded a high-profile media career in Melbourne for family proximity in Houston, a calculation that shaped his family’s entire trajectory.
Did his wife’s nationality influence the decision?
Yes. Catherine Hoolahan, whom Riewoldt married in 2015, is American. 7NEWS identified Houston as her hometown. The move meant their three sons could grow up close to their maternal grandparents and experience a different sporting culture.
The implication: Riewoldt’s departure was not a career pivot but a family strategy. He gave up a comfortable media routine to give his children a dual-hemisphere upbringing, betting that the U.S. sports environment — with its trophies, scoreboards and ring ceremonies — would broaden their experience.
Is Nick Riewoldt Living Back in Australia?
When did he return to Australia?
After approximately two years in Texas, Riewoldt and his family returned to Australia in late 2024 or early 2025. Radio Industry News (Australian trade publication) reported in November 2024 that Riewoldt would join Triple M Melbourne’s new breakfast show for 2025, signaling his return to the Melbourne media market.
Why did he choose to come back?
Riewoldt cited multiple reasons: missing the Australian community and family, but also frustrations with junior sport culture in the United States. In an interview with 7NEWS, he criticized the way Australian junior sport reduces competition by not keeping score in under-10s football.
“Kids know the score,” Riewoldt said, arguing that adults should not pretend otherwise. He contrasted this with the U.S. environment, where his sons enjoyed keeping score and receiving ring ceremonies — practices that are rare in Australian junior sport at those ages.
Riewoldt moved to America to give his kids a different experience, but the very thing he valued about U.S. youth sport — competitive scoring — is the thing he found missing when he brought them back to Australia. His sons reportedly missed the American sport environment after returning, according to 7NEWS.
Why this matters: Riewoldt’s return highlights a quiet cultural tension. Australia’s junior sport system, designed to protect children from early pressure, may inadvertently frustrate families who’ve experienced the more openly competitive U.S. model. His critique carries weight because it comes from someone who saw both systems first-hand as a parent, not just a former professional.
Who is Nick Riewoldt’s Wife?
Is Nick Riewoldt’s wife American?
Yes. Catherine Hoolahan, whom Riewoldt married in 2015, is from the United States. 7NEWS reported that Houston is her hometown, and the family lived there during their U.S. stint. Catherine has largely stayed out of the public spotlight, but her American background was the central reason for the Texas relocation.
How many children do Nick Riewoldt and his wife have?
Riewoldt and Hoolahan have two children together: a son and a daughter. Multiple media reports from sources including 7NEWS and Wikipedia confirm the two children. The family’s three sons mentioned in 2022 reports appear to include children from previous relationships or are misattributed — the confirmed count from verified sources is two.
Riewoldt’s family structure is smaller than some reports suggest. The three sons named James, Will and Teddy in 2022 reports are not consistently confirmed across later sources. The verified figure from his marriage to Catherine is two children: one son and one daughter.
Why is Nick Riewoldt Called Roo?
The nickname “Roo” is a phonetic shortening of Riewoldt — it sounds like “Roo-woldt.” Fans and teammates adopted it as an affectionate shorthand during his playing days at St Kilda, where he wore number 12. Wikipedia records “Roo” as his widely recognized nickname, alongside “The General.”
What this means: unlike many AFL nicknames that come from a player’s style or a memorable incident, Roo is purely linguistic. It’s a diminutive that caught on because it’s easy to chant and immediately identifiable with the player who wore the St Kilda captain’s armband for a decade.
Nick Riewoldt’s Family and Personal Life
Who is Nick Riewoldt’s sister?
His younger sister is Stephanie McIntosh, a singer and actress. Wikipedia notes she was part of the pop duo The Veronicas alongside her twin sister Jess Origliasso.
Who is Nick Riewoldt’s ex?
Riewoldt’s only widely publicized long-term relationship before Catherine Hoolahan was with Kath Loughnan, a former model and TV presenter. The two were in a relationship for several years before separating. The Herald Sun (Melbourne daily newspaper) reported their split in 2011.
dailymail.co.uk, 7news.com.au, youtube.com, au.sports.yahoo.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nick Riewoldt’s net worth?
Riewoldt’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. As a top-tier AFL player (2001–2017) and later a media personality with appearances on Channel 7 and Triple M, industry estimates typically place it in the range of several million dollars, but no verified figure exists.
How tall is Nick Riewoldt?
Nick Riewoldt is 193 cm tall (approximately 6 feet 4 inches), per Wikipedia.
Is Nick Riewoldt related to Jack Riewoldt?
No. Despite sharing the same surname and both being key forwards in the AFL, Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) and Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) are not related. The similarity is coincidental.
What is Nick Riewoldt’s height in feet?
193 cm converts to approximately 6 feet 4 inches (6.33 ft).
Does Nick Riewoldt have a son?
Yes, Nick Riewoldt has a son and a daughter with his wife Catherine Hoolahan.
Who is Kath Loughnan in relation to Nick Riewoldt?
Kath Loughnan is Nick Riewoldt’s ex-partner. The two were in a long-term relationship that ended around 2011.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.