St Kilda might not be stacked with elite players just yet, but star midfielder Jack Steven believes the Saints will be stocked with a few more by the end of this season.

With champions Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna retiring at the end of last season, there is a perception that St Kilda is light on for top-end talent.

But with Seb Ross, Dylan Roberton and Jack Billings producing career best years in 2017, and Paddy McCartin and Jade Gresham capable of brilliance, Steven believes there is a group of players on the cusp of entrenching themselves in the elite bracket.

“Hopefully by the end of the year those views will change. I think we’ve got plenty (of emerging stars) here and they’re all coming through,” Steven told SEN Breakfast on Wednesday morning.

“We’re a young group, so they are probably not the bigger names as yet but they will be big names soon.”

St Kilda unveiled its 2018 leadership group at RSEA Park on Tuesday, with Steven, Seb Ross, Dylan Roberton and Jack Newnes supporting Jarryn Geary, who has been voted in as captain for the second successive year.

After being included in the group for the first time in 2016, the calm, cool and collected Steven says he has provided a different outlook on leadership.

“I like being in it and like being a voice for the players,” Steven said.

“I offer a different sort of perspective, try and make sure there is a balance between footy and having a bit of fun for the boys.

When St Kilda’s training camp at Geelong Grammar finished late last month, the entire playing group descended on Steven’s farm in Lorne to round out a productive week on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“We had a training camp at Geelong and when the camp finished I took all the boys down to Lorne and showed them where I grew up and enjoyed the night,” he said.

“It was Australia Day weekend so there was plenty happening and good fun.”