Riewoldt may lose captaincy

Nick Riewoldt is no certainty to retain the St Kilda captaincy with a new Saints leadership group to be appointed early next year.

Riewoldt, 29, was a shadow of his champion self for most of this year because of a knee injury that eventually needed post-season surgery.

New coach Scott Watters said that 'everyone is auditioning' for inclusion in the leadership group and the captaincy was 'an open slate at this point'.

While a decision on the 2012 captaincy won't be made for another month Watters said Riewoldt remained in contention to keep the job.

Entering his 12th season, there have been calls for the superstar forward to surrender the captaincy to allow the five-time best and fairest to focus on his form.

Asked if Riewoldt was likely to make a decision on his own to step down Watters said: "I wouldn't think so.''

"But again, you can speculate right now, but we'll decide our leadership group towards the end of January and when it's decided, it's decided. It's not going to be decided at the end of December,'' he told reporters at Moorabbin on Tuesday.

"(It is) uncertain at this point, but again nothing's been penciled in right now. They are challenging for spots and they will be judged by their actions over a period of time. That was outlined on day one and that will remain that way until we decide our leadership group which will be towards the end of January at some point."

After returning to training ahead of the rest of the squad Riewoldt is on a break in the US and will rejoin the main squad after Christmas.