St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary says the Saints won't let external noise become a factor this year.

The 29-year-old is confident his side can silence critics as the club pushes for its first finals appearance since 2011.

“People will say what they want, and you can either listen to them or they can be noise in the background," Geary said.

"There’s no more pressure put on us than we put on ourselves internally, so we’re expecting big things from ourselves and I know that’s the case externally as well."

With a strong young list now bolstered by top-10 picks Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield, the Saints are well placed to make a charge towards September this year.

"We feel like we’ve been building for a number of years now, now there’s no doubt that the time has come for us to take the next step in our progression as a football club," he said.

“We’re pushing ourselves hard and feel like we’re in a good position to improve and play finals this year."

Geary, now in his second year as captain, is confident that at their best the Saints can match it against anyone in the competition.

"We’ve got to get better and be better for longer… be stronger for longer," Geary emphasised.

"Our best footy is good enough, but we haven’t been able to play that way often enough. The next progression is to play that way that week in week out."

Progress has continued off the field as well, with St Kilda's men's team now officially back at their spiritual home at RSEA Park in Moorabbin. 

"Moving back, there’s been so many stories relayed through various people around the club," he said.

"We’ve been able to name rooms here and make it both a home and a football club.

"We've got the Robert Harvey room, the Darrel Baldock room... so there's a few names that are etched in the memories of Saints fans, and now our players will be able to see them every day and re-live the history of the football club.

"Moorabbin has been home to St Kilda for a long time."