FINALS are clearly on the agenda for St Kilda in 2016 according to leadership group member Mav Weller.
The Saints are taking their cue from the Western Bulldogs, who won seven games and finished 14th in 2015, but who just 12 months later won 14 games and finished sixth on the ladder before losing narrowly in the first week of the finals.
"We rolled the Bulldogs in one of the two games we played them. They were fantastic last year and they showed it can happen," Weller said on Saturday.
"[You can go] from a bottom-eight side to a real contender very quickly if you do the work and you have the players."
The Saints finished 14th last season with six-and-a-half wins but Weller said there were no limits on what the club could achieve in 2016.
"I don't think there is a ceiling. The premiership group is there. There's obviously some work to be done and consistency is a big one.
"We're aiming to win finals and if you're not, then you're playing the wrong game. We talk about finals and about becoming the best every day," he said.
Weller said he hoped and expected Nick Riewoldt to remain skipper of the Saints for as long as he wished, but nominated Jarryn Geary and David Armitage as those who could lead the club if asked.
And he forecast midfielder Jack Billings as one player to watch in particular in 2016.
"He's a special player with lots of composure," Weller said. "He got cut down this year with injury on the back of a couple of really great games. You can tell he's hungry and he's been working hard and put on some size. He'll take some steps forward next year."
Weller was also asked about his less-than-flattering opinion of his time at Gold Coast, and attempted to tone down his quotes.
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"I was just asked a question - how I felt about my last year at the Gold Coast Suns," he said.
"I just didn't enjoy it, just because of injury, I was a bit out of form and that sort of stuff.
"There was nothing spiteful towards Guy - I have the utmost respect for him and the club as well."
Weller was speaking as part of the Saints' 12 Days of Christmas promotion. On Saturday, several Saints players took part in a party in a Brighton street that is home to families that have been members of St Kilda for several years.
- with AAP