Having claimed his maiden best and fairest in 2013, Steven had a delayed start to last season because of a foot injury, and did not play his first senior match until round four.

He averaged 23.1 disposals, slipping from 26.9 a year earlier, with contested possessions also dipping from 10.9 to 8.6. His average number of clearances dropped from 5.4 to 4.5 and score assists from 1.1 to 0.4.

Steven is one of the men the Saints hope can fast-track their rebuild.

"Jack Steven was in that elite midfield conversation two years ago when he won the best and fairest. He had an injury-interrupted season so we certainly hope he gets back to that form," Riewoldt said.

"Tom Hickey, those guys, they have a really big role to play in the transition of the footy club."

Ruckman Hickey, who is on the mend from knee surgery in London and won't resume full training until after Christmas, has said he wants to become an integral part of the side.

The top-four spots in the Saints' best-and-fairest count were filled by Riewoldt, the now retired Lenny Hayes, and fellow veterans Sean Dempster and Leigh Montagna. All were aged 30 or older. The Saints know they need more of their youngsters pushing into these spots if they are to again emerge as a force under coach Alan Richardson.

"My whole mindset this off-season is I want to be one of those driving factors, because we are such a young group, that can help us push us back up the ladder," Hickey said.

"I feel like I am one of the older blokes now which is crazy - I am only turning 24 next year. It puts a lot of responsibility on to the mid-tier players but I think we are going to thrive on it. I definitely will and I will really want to build my leadership this year and try and help the young blokes.

"We did a lot of work with [leadership group] Leading Teams this year and a lot about direct and honest feedback. The boys really embraced it. I think towards the end of the year everyone started to see that and everyone started to buy into it a lot more."

Hickey said he and fellow ruckman Billy Longer hoped to also become productive options in the forward line, particularly since Rhys Stanley had joined Geelong.

"With the absence of Rhys, it opens up that spot for one of us to play forward and, hopefully, have two ruckmen on the field. It will be really good because it's pretty tough going playing big minutes in the ruck and it's always nice to have that chop out up forward," he said.

"What we need to prove is that we can, if not one of us, then both for us, play forward and have an impact. There is probably a big emphasis on both of us to try and get forward."

Riewoldt said the Saints also needed the likes of David Armitage and Jarryn Geary to continue to develop, while the likes of Jack Billings and Luke Dunstan - the latter will don Hayes' famous No. 7 guernsey- were given time to mature.

Preparing for his 15th campaign, Riewoldt said he had adjusted his mindset after years of playing in finals-bound sides alongside the likes of Brendon Goddard and Nick Dal Santo, who have since left in a bid to realise their premiership aspirations.

"It was probably a little bit difficult to begin with because a lot of those guys who left are close friends and guys that I have played a lot of footy with," Riewoldt said on Adelaide radio.

"When you have played in a successful team, we played finals I think for nine straight years, and you know you are going to be taking a little short-term pain, it can be hard.

"Because the club has been so transparent and so honest in the direction they are going, and so committed to it, it makes it a little bit easier and, hopefully, that will bring about the change we want to see sooner rather than later."

Riewoldt said he was open to handing over the captaincy - but it's highly unlikely the Saints will contemplate that.

"My position hasn't really changed in the last few years. I will do what's in the best interests of the footy club. If that's me in the role, that's great, if that's me supporting someone else in the role, then I am up for that challenge as well," he said.

Riewoldt will take part in the International Rules series next week, joining the Australian side for the first time since 2004.