St Kilda’s engine room consists of a blend of old, wise heads and a spread of youthful top-end talent. The age gap between the two demographics has narrowed in the last year or two with a wave of youngsters coming through the ranks.

Due to its very nature, this is the biggest group on any list and typically the most competitive for spots. The Saints’ midfield is led by dual All Australian Leigh Montagna, two-time Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven and one of the most improved midfielders in the game last season, David Armitage.

The star midfield trio filled three of the top four positions in last season’s best and fairest, with Steven narrowly eclipsing Armitage. Montagna showed no signs of old age continuing his sustained period of consistency, finishing just off the podium.

Expect to also see Captain Nick Riewoldt spend more time through the middle, given the six-time All Australian has trained on a wing at times this pre-season and Alan Richardson has suggested at different stages this summer that the champion forward will play higher up the ground throughout 2016.

Underneath the top echelon at Linen House Centre sits workhorse midfielders Maverick Weller, Jack Newnes and Luke Dunstan. The support crew who shovel coal into the fire on hard days to keep the engine room ticking over.

Weller has carved out a niche in Alan Richardson’s midfield as a tagger, whilst Dunstan’s work on the inside makes him a crucial component to the Saints onball department – as does Seb Ross who does his best work in close, but has been held back by injury during the early stages of his career.

On the outside, St Kilda hopes to utilise the class of Jack Billings to ensure the last kick inside 50 is as damaging as it can possibly be. And off-season recruit Nathan Freeman’s ability to burst away from stoppages and power away on wings was a key reason he was taken at pick No. 10 in the 2013 National Draft. Blake Acres is another who fits this mould.

After his impressive debut season, Jack Sinclair could command more midfield minutes this year, as could Eli Templeton who predominantly plays up forward but can go through the middle.

First-round pick Jade Gresham has spent the pre-season working with the midfield group and has impressed with his work at stoppages. Last year’s recruits Nick O’Kearney and father-son recruit Bailey Rice are other options from the fresh batch.

Despite not playing much football at senior level in 2015 Josh Saunders, Tom Curren and Brodie Murdoch have all got experience at the highest level and provide further depth through the midfield.