AFTER narrowly missing out on making finals last year, making the top eight is the expectation at St Kilda, defender Nathan Brown says.

The Saints finished with 12 wins and only percentage separated them from North Melbourne.

Asked if it would be a step back for St Kilda to not be involved in September action, Brown insisted it was a challenge for which the club was prepared.

"Definitely. We missed out on finals on percentage last year and we lost a couple of close games that we could have easily won," Brown said at Seaford on Wednesday.

"We want to play finals this year, as every single team does. It's going to be hard and we're going to be up for it."

Nick Riewoldt vacated the captaincy at the end of last year, and Brown said the club wanted to have a leader announced ahead of the JLT Community Series campaign.

St Kilda kicks off its pre-season campaign against Port Adelaide on Thursday, February 23, at Etihad Stadium.

"We'll have a vote and it will be very soon. The games are coming up very soon and we want a leader by then," he said.

Brown, 28, came to the club on a two-year deal as a restricted free agent from Collingwood. Being unwanted by the Magpies was a jarring experience, but it was not a complete surprise.

"I'm not stupid, I've played the game for 11 years and you see it a lot. You can't take it to heart, you've just got to adapt to it and see what the best situation is," he said.

"Luckily enough, St Kilda approached me. It's been a really good fit and I'm really excited to see what happens."

The key backman played 16 matches for the Pies last year and had a stint in the VFL, with a hamstring injury also setting him back.

Brown knows he will have to keep on top of his game to ensure his form does not drop.

"It's that period where you're in the peak of your AFL career but it could slide off very quickly. Coming across has given me a new challenge and desire for the game," he said.

Midfielder Nathan Freeman was involved in full training on Wednesday despite having his left calf strapped. Key backman Hugh Goddard ran laps as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.

It will be a different looking St Kilda defence this year, with Brown and Jake Carlisle to line up for the Saints for the first time, while Sam Fisher will be missing.

Carlisle has recently joined full training after hip surgery, having been involved in the two main sessions each week for the past fortnight.

Brown said it was important the defenders became accustomed to each other.

"The great backlines, like Geelong in the recent past, they've got to play well together and jell. They don't have to be superstars, they just have to play well as a unit," he said.

"That's what we've worked really hard on in the pre-season, just getting to know everyone's game style. Particularly myself and Jake, as new players coming into the system, we've worked really hard on that."

The elephant in the room with Brown's arrival is the 2010 Grand final St Kilda lost to Collingwood, with the former Pie taking a premiership medal home.

"It's been brought up a few times but I just play it down. I'm very proud of that and have a lot of great memories of that, but I'm here at the Saints now and I really want to be part of a flag here at this club," he said.

AFL and club access members will have free general admission entry to those matches in which their club is competing (subject to availability, upgrade fees may be applicable). Click here to learn more.