For the second consecutive season, Maverick Weller has been included in the Saints leadership group, an acknowledgment the hard-working St Kilda utility describes as a privilege.

Since being thrown a lifeline by the Saints at the end of 2013, the former Gold Coast Suns underage access recruit has completed a remarkable turnaround, playing 36 games in his first two seasons at Seaford – a far cry from just the four he managed in his final year at Metricon Stadium.

On the eve of his second season in the leadership group, the 24-year-old says his capacity as a leader has flourished in the last 12 months by working closely with experienced trio Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna and Sean Dempster.

“It’s a massive honour. I’ve really enjoyed my time last year working with the likes of ‘Rooey’ and ‘Joey’ and Sean Dempster – some great leaders. They’ve really helped me grow,” Weller told saints.com.au.

“I feel privileged that the boys trust me to go back into the group and put the best foot forward for the players.

“It’s (Weller's leadership) taken a massive step. I’ve really taken a lot of time to really sit down and work out what sort of leader I am.

Throughout the summer, Weller has invested time in the club’s youngest crop of players, inviting them into his home to learn more about them as people. An easy way he believes can assist transitions from not only outside the club to inside the four walls, but also from outside the senior setup to inside the best 22.

“I’ve really taken an interest to our younger players and working with them to help develop them and help fast track them to play the best footy that they can possibly play. Obviously that relates to our club and getting us up the ladder,” Weller said.

“I’ve taken a liking to sitting down with the younger players, inviting them over for dinner and finding out how they’re going, so they come into the team – whenever that may be – and just play footy, just play on instinct and play with confidence.

“I know from experience that confidence can come and go. If you’ve got someone there helping you out, it can make a big difference.”

Unlike his first two seasons at Seaford, Weller was part of the senior group that was given an extra two weeks break ahead of the pre-season. A time the Tasmanian used to mentally and physically reset on foreign soil, a world away from football.

“It was quite refreshing. I got away at the end of last year overseas for a month, which was really nice through Asia,” Weller said.

“I got back a couple of weeks later, I was sort of itching to get back and get back with the boys but I sort of had to force myself to stay away.

“It’s been a real breath of fresh air coming back a bit later. It feels like pre-season goes a bit quicker.”