The star Saint was unveiled as the club's captain for a record 10th year on Tuesday and he will spearhead a leadership group that also contains Leigh Montagna, Sean Dempster, David Armitage, Jarryn Geary and newcomers Maverick Weller and Jack Newnes.

Riewoldt is now 45 games from breaking Carlton legend Stephen Kernahan's all-time record of 226 matches as a club captain.

But bettering that mark is far from Riewoldt's mind and the 32-year-old is determined to help fast-track the next generation of leaders at Seaford.

"Hopefully next year we're in a position to have a different discussion, I think that will be really helpful for the football club," Riewoldt said on Tuesday.

"I'm committed to the role now and next year and as long as I need to be in it but I think it's really healthy that 'Newnesy' and 'Mav' have come into the [leadership] group and hopefully next year there's another couple of young guys [that] step in – that's what we're trying to build and develop.

"This year presents as an exciting challenge as I've had at any stage. I've clearly been a part of some really successful teams and the motivation there is a little bit different to now.

"Now it's about leading strongly for a young group to make sure that we can continue our climb up the ladder."

When asked if it would be an ideal scenario to have someone else captaining St Kilda next year, Riewoldt said: "It would be great to have multiple options. I'm sure there'll come a stage this year [when I'm not playing] ... where we'll have that discussion."

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was full of praise for Newnes, 21, and Weller, 22, for being promoted to the leadership group and said the pair had earned the respect of their teammates.

"Maverick Weller ... has been acknowledged by his teammates as someone that lives and breathes the way we want players to prepare, the way that we want players to perform and the manner in which we want players to play the game," Richardson said.

"Jack Newnes ... has had an outstanding summer and pre-season on the back of a really impressive year last year."

The Saints, who finished bottom last year, have the fifth-youngest list in the AFL but Riewoldt insisted the team wouldn't be hiding behind that as they aimed to dramatically improve in 2015.

"We need to take a big step forward this year and we need to improve all aspects of our game," he said.

"We're not going to go anywhere unless the entire group gets fitter and stronger and faster."

Riewoldt has become the first player in history to captain St Kilda for 10 years – surpassing champion defender Danny Frawley who did the job for nine years – but he insisted he didn't give much thought to the significant historical achievement.

The five-time All-Australian is coming off one of his best seasons and is contracted until the end of 2016. But with a degenerative left knee to manage, he wasn't sure how many years he had left in the game beyond then.

"It's difficult to make long-term predictions in this industry when you're over 30," Riewoldt said.

"What I do know is at the moment every decision I make off the field is with football in mind and I think as long as you're in that frame of mind and that headspace then you're in the right shape to keep playing."