NICK Dal Santo will be emotional when he plays against his former team St Kilda for the first time this Saturday, but doesn't think he'll cry after the game like former teammate Brendon Goddard did in the same scenario last year.

Dal Santo joined North as a restricted free agent last October after 260 games in 12 seasons at St Kilda, a decision he told NMFC.com.au on Wednesday was initiated by the Saints.

"Looking back on it, St Kilda had to make a decision to let me go and I had to accept it and agree to move on," Dal Santo said.

"But I'd like to think after 12 years you've got a really good relationship with the club, and I appreciate everything they've done.

"I'd never say a bad word about them."

Which is why Saturday's clash at Blundstone Arena will be one of mixed emotions for Dal Santo.

Dal Santo was playing for the Saints in round four last season when Goddard, who crossed from St Kilda to Essendon as a free agent at the end of 2012, played his first game against his former club.

Goddard was so emotional after the Bombers beat the Saints by 37 points that he was in tears after the final siren.

"I don't think I'll cry. I saw how that went last year with Brendon (Goddard) after we played them," Dal Santo said.

"I'll be a bit emotional, I reckon that's natural, but I think I'll leave the crying to another time.

"I don't feel uncomfortable about playing them, but it's obviously not ideal.

"I've still got some really close mates that I'm looking forward to going up against because I've actually played against them twice a week at training for the last 12 years when we had scrimmage or 'praccy' games.

"It's going to be a little bit weird but that's natural."

Dal Santo went to the Saints' clash against Carlton last Sunday and said he found it hard to watch his former teammates suffer an 85-point defeat.

The Saints started this season promisingly, winning three of their first five games but have since dropped their past 10 games by an average margin of 63 points.

It was widely predicted 2014 would be a bumpy year for the Saints as they embarked on a list rebuild with senior hands such as Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna leading the way.

Dal Santo played alongside that trio in St Kilda's successful 2004-2011 era, when the Saints played in seven out of eight finals series and the 2009 and 2010 Grand Finals.

While Riewoldt, Hayes and Montagna are experiencing far tougher on-field times now, Dal Santo says they are still playing a valuable role for St Kilda.

"I think those older guys, 'Rooey' (Riewoldt), 'Joey' (Montagna), Lenny and those guys, they've done a really good job for a long period of time and they are there for a different reason at the moment," Dal Santo says.

"They are helping the young kids, so that's the most important bit."