Ryan Byrnes and Dan Butler will play on next season, with the club committed to selecting both players in November's AFL Rookie Draft.

As part of the club's list management strategy, Byrnes and Butler will be delisted before being re-selected as rookies for the 2027 season.

Byrnes has played 95 games for St Kilda since being selected at pick 52 in the 2019 National AFL Draft. The 25-year-old was a consistent feature in the AFL side last season, playing the final 15 games of 2026.

The 30-year-old Butler played 10 games last season, including the final two in the AFL side. In total, he has played 116 games and kicked 125 goals for the Saints since joining the club from Richmond ahead of the 2020 season.

General Manager of Football Lenny Hayes said the club looked forward to welcoming both players back for another season. 

“We’ve had several positive conversations with Ryan and Dan since the end of the season and made it clear we’re committed to re-selecting them.

"They have both been valued members of our program for several seasons. During this time, they have proven reliable contributors and we're confident they will play their role for the team again next year.

The AFL National Draft will take place across Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November, with the AFL Rookie Draft to follow on Monday November 23.