Now in his fourth season calling the Green Machine as part of the Raiders on Mix team, Nick Risteski, known on the air as ‘Raider Nick’, still wakes up on game day excited. “It’s a childhood dream,” he says. “I called games in the loungeroom as a kid. It’s a really satisfying exercise commentating the game you love with the team you love to the people you love, the Canberra community.” Nick’s love for broadcasting is as strong as his passion for the Raiders and the Canberra community more widely. He enjoys putting the headphones on and interviewing people, always striving to bring out the best in his subject. Catch Nick calling the Raiders with the Raiders on Mix team, or listen to his weekly The Raider Nick Podcast with former Raider Paul ‘Ozzy’ Osbourne and co-commentator Phil Small; available here or on most podcasting platforms.
My daughter
“Becoming a father has really put things in perspective,” Nick says. “My daughter Davina is my inspiration, because everything I do is for her. When you become a parent, it makes everything you do much more purposeful.”
My Canberra Raiders jersey
A former junior Raider, Nick’s jersey from his playing days remains one of his favourite possessions. “I actually took it for granted back then, but it’s only now later in life that I actually say ‘I ran out and went to war for my town wearing that jersey’.”
My guitar
“I started playing guitar at a young age,” he says. “It gets the creative juices flowing and I find it very therapeutic to play the guitar. Any instrument is beautiful as you can never perfect it; it’s an infinity road … It evolves with you as you grow.”
Broadcasting
“I love interviewing and having a chat with people. That’s my favourite part of working in the media. Whether we’re going live on radio or hitting record on a podcast, that rush of being there and communicating and bringing the best out of someone, that’s it.”
My phone
“I’ve now got a gadget in my pocket that can make a phone call, send an email, surf the web, buy a piece of gear, but most importantly create content. I’m always using it, either to record for radio or with the camera to take footage.”
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