St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt has inked a new one-year contract, extending his decorated career at the Saints into a seventeenth season.

The six-time Trevor Barker Award winner reached the 300-game milestone in Round 2 and has been one of the Saints best performers across the first half of 2016.

Riewoldt, 33, is averaging career high numbers in a range of indicators, including disposals (20.3 per game), uncontested possessions (15.1) and marks (10.4), to go with 21 goals across the first 11 games of the season.

The Saints captain said a sound mind and body, coupled with the exciting direction the club is heading in, were the main factors behind his decision to play on in 2017.

“I’m just really excited by the direction the club’s heading. It’s been a really enjoyable year so far. We know we’ve still got a lot of challenges in front of us and a lot of improvement to make,” Riewoldt told saints.com.au.

“So for me it was about making sure my body was right and my mind was right to continue, and then having the support of the club to do so. We were all pretty happy to keep moving forward so I’m really excited,” he said.

Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel Ameet Bains said the club was pleased Riewoldt would play on in 2017.

“It was a pretty straightforward process for us. Given his performances across the first half of this season and his physical and mental shape, both parties feel confident that Nick can continue to make an impact in 2017.

“Nick’s decision to extend his career is an endorsement of the direction we are heading in as a football club and the faith he has in our football program under Alan Richardson.

“With the emergence of our young key forwards in Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey this season, we think they will all be key beneficiaries of Nick’s decision to play on, as well as the rest of our young players,” Bains said.

Despite a minor setback with his knee following a collision against Adelaide last weekend, Riewoldt says his body feels as good as it has in the last four or five years and his mind is still capable of driving him forward.

“It’s probably been the best I’ve felt in four or five years to be honest. Clearly a bit of a setback on the weekend, but hopefully I just miss the one week and come back post the bye,” Riewoldt said.

“I suppose that’s the most important thing (your mindset). As long as your mind’s willing to keep going and do the work you can overcome certain setbacks.

“It’s been the young players that really keep the older players refreshed and invigorated to keep giving great effort. I feel really good about my footy and where the club’s heading in general,” he said.

In Adelaide last weekend, Riewoldt drew level with Brisbane champion Michael Voss on 210 games as a captain – the equal fourth most in the game’s history behind record-holder Stephen Kernahan on 226.

The Saints longest serving skipper said he wasn’t sure whether he would hand over the captaincy next season, but he has confidence in the candidates below him, citing the ongoing of Jack Steven, Jack Newnes and Mav Weller.

“I’m not too sure at this stage; clearly for the rest of the year I’ll stay in that role, even this week I’m not too sure which of the boys will fulfil that role,” Riewoldt said.

“The young guys are really stepping up their leadership. It’s really important that that occurs for us to go to another level.”