THE early part of the 21^st century very much served as a changing of the guard for St Kilda.

As a handful of experienced campaigners such as Stewart Loewe, Robert Harvey and Nathan Burke entered the twilight of their careers, a new era of young stars emerged.

More than a decade on, two of those young stars find themselves as the senior heads of the club – a fact that has almost taken Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo by surprise.

“I think the thing you reflect on is how old you thought those guys were,” Riewoldt told saints.com.au.

“When Harves played in his 250^th I was a young guy and I looked at Harves and thought he was so old. Here we are now - it’s a weird feeling.”

On Saturday Riewoldt and teammate Nick Dal Santo will each play their 250^th game.

[ RELATED: Dal Santo photo timeline Riewoldt photo timeline]

Drafted a year apart, Riewoldt and Dal Santo were regarded as two of the most exciting young players in the competition before establishing themselves as genuine AFL stars.

Dal Santo agrees with his captain that it is a remarkably quick transformation from promising youngster to seasoned veteran.

“It does (go quickly). In reflection on the last 12 years I can still reflect on a time in the showers at Moorabbin and Stewie Loewe said to a few of the young boys ‘enjoy it, it’s going to go really quickly.’” Dal Santo said.

“I remember looking at him and thinking ‘whatever old man, we’re going to play forever and it is going to be the best thing we’ve done in our life.’ It has been the best thing that we’ve ever done but he was right, it has gone very quickly.”

It is a coincidence that the pair celebrates the same milestone on the same day, but both Riewoldt and Dal Santo saw from a long time out that it would happen.

“Probably only at the start of the season when we were both on 238 games and you look at the fixture. The first thing you hope is that you play it in Melbourne in front of the St Kilda supporters,” Riewoldt said.

“That is great and then I looked down the column and Dal had played 238 as well. We were thinking along the way that one of us might miss or have a week off with injury. But it is a special thing to be able to share, we’ve experienced a lot together and I’m rapt to be able to share it with a great mate.”

Riewoldt came to St Kilda as the overall no. 1 draft pick in 2000, with Dal Santo coming via pick 13, which the Saints had received in return for sending Barry Hall to the Sydney Swans.

Dal Santo said his first impression of the man who would become his good friend was his physical presence.

“I can remember the first time I saw Rooey in person. I got drafted and moved to Melbourne a week after finishing year 12. (Then coach) Grant Thomas had a barbeque at his house on the Sunday afternoon,” he said.

“My family were invited along with the other six draftees for the year and I remember Rooey walked in with Kosi (Justin Koschitzke) and my initial impression was ‘gee he’s a lot taller than I thought he was’ and a lot bigger. That went for a lot of the guys – the other one that stands in my mind was Max Hudghton. I didn’t realise Maxy was physically that big.”

The young Saints drafted in the early part of the millennium quickly formed a bond. Dal Santo and Riewoldt were part of a solid group that was regarded as one of the most exciting young teams in the AFL.

Dal Santo said the young Saints became close both on and off the field.

“There were so many young guys at the club in those days that we hung out training wise all day and then we would go out and socialise at night. We’d have dinners and beers or whatever it may be,” he said.

“In the off-season we’d have a holiday together so we became best mates. It probably wasn’t forced upon us because we spent so much time together but it just worked out perfectly from there.”