Nick Riewoldt said following confirmation of his retention as St Kilda captain that he's 'never been so excited to hold the role'.
New coach Scott Watters announced at the club's Seaford base on Wednesday afternoon that after a process of several months it's been decided that Riewoldt would lead the Saints for a fifth season in a row as sole skipper, having also been captain in 2005 and co-captain in 2007.
While there won't be a designated vice-captain, the club's leadership group will also include Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Brendon Goddard, Sam Fisher, Adam Schneider and newcomers James Gwilt and Ben McEvoy.
Veteran Lenny Hayes, who is on the comeback trail after a knee injury ended his 2011 season in Round 2, won't be part of the leadership group but will still have a role to play after being appointed a 'leadership mentor' to support Riewoldt, his seven deputies and the rest of the list.
Speaking after the announcement, Riewoldt said the St Kilda captaincy is a role 'that I have a great amount of respect for'.
"But to be perfectly honest it's a position that I've never been so excited to hold given the current situation that the club finds itself in," Riewoldt said.
"I just think we're in a fantastic position at the moment to really attack the future that lies in front of us."
"Obviously we all would love to play and lead forever as is the case with all the guys up here but unfortunately that's not the case so there is going to be a very strong succession element to this leadership group and my role as captain."
"That's really what I see my role entailing, to build and develop the emerging leaders from the St Kilda Football Club to make sure that the legacy we leave as players is a strong one and one where the football club will be successful for many years to come."
Riewoldt added that while he had been willing to step down from the job Watters encouraged him to go through the lengthy process which ultimately endorsed him remaining captain.
"I think it's been a fantastic process that the club's gone through, it's been completely transparent, it's been supported from the board right the way down across the whole club and the players have really embraced it," Riewoldt added.
"So it is nice to have gone through the process and have the reassurance now that it wasn't just because I was the incumbent (that I remain captain) it was because that's what the club and the players wanted."
With just a year left on his contract and having already been the subject of plenty of speculation regarding his future with Greater Western Sydney circling, Goddard was reluctant to comment on the matter.
"As you said there's going to be speculation all year but free agency is a reality in today's game and what happens with my contract going forward is between myself, the club and my management group," Goddard said.
"But as I stand here today I'm committed to this club 100 percent and always have been."