St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson says the next wave of emerging leaders at Linen House Centre have been provided with the opportunity to develop their leadership across the pre-season.

With the club's longest serving captain – and the third longest serving skipper in the game’s history – Nick Riewoldt handing over the coveted leadership title at the end of last season, St Kilda will appoint a new skipper for the first time since 2007.

And while St Kilda has a handful of bona fide candidates waiting in the wings, the club has also focused on investing in the next generation of leaders this summer, providing an array of growth opportunities at training, off the ground and on the pre-season camp in New Zealand.

Richardson revealed that St Kilda Director of Coaching and Development, Danny Sexton, has introduced a leadership program at the club which has had a significant impact in the last few months.

“We’ve certainly given plenty of guys the opportunity to lead, whether that be in training sessions or in activities away from footy that has put people out of their comfort zone. Danny Sexton has designed and implemented a very thorough leadership program that I believe has the potential to improve every player on our list,” Richardson told saints.com.au on Wednesday.

“That was one main facet of the camp in New Zealand, to see how they’d respond and how they’d cope and it gave coaches and their peers the opportunity to provide feedback.

“We’ve seen some great growth from the next group of leaders coming through, Seb Ross, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Luke Dunstan, Dylan Roberton, Tom Hickey et cetera.

“A heavy focus at this stage to give the players the opportunity to lead and provide the right feedback, give them the opportunity to grow and improve; I’ve been really pleased with the work our young leaders have done.”