St Kilda Football Club advises that it will commence the search for a new Head of List Management following the decision of current Recruiting and List Manager Tony Elshaug to step down from the role.

General Manager of Football Simon Lethlean said that the timing was right to move in a new direction.

“After discussions with Tony over the past few weeks, we have agreed that the time is right to bring someone new in to oversee the list management strategy.

"Their primary focus will be acquiring and retaining elite talent, managing our young developing list, modernising our practices and systems and ensuring we are at the cutting edge in this critical area of the football industry.

“Tony is someone of great integrity, knowledge and experience and is renowned for his incredible work ethic.

“He is someone the Club respects enormously and we thank him for his tireless work at the Saints for over a decade as both an assistant coach and in recruitment.

“We will work with Tony as he transitions out of the role and provides a handover to the new appointment during the back half of 2018.

“We will also utilise the remainder of the year to explore with Tony any other opportunities for him within the Club given his vast experience in this space.”

Tony Elshaug said the time was right to move on.

“I would like to thank the St Kilda Football Club for all the opportunities that it has afforded me, and acknowledge the wonderful friendships that I have made in football along the way,” Elshaug said.

"I am looking forward to the remainder of the year with the Club but the time is right to move on and begin the next chapter.”

Elshaug was the club’s Recruiting Manager from 2011 to 2014 before stepping up to the role of Recruiting and List manager at the end of 2014.

After 137 games as a player with Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood, including a premiership with Essendon in 1985, Elshaug also spent 13 years under Dennis Pagan at the Kangaroos and Carlton as an assistant coach.

He then crossed to the Saints in 2007 where he served under Ross Lyon as his senior assistant before transitioning into the role of Recruiting Manager.

The Club will now commence the process to appoint a new Head of List Management.