ST KILDA has appointed 2004 Olympic sprinter Adam Basil as its high performance manager after the recent departure of Bill Davoren to Collingwood.

 

Basil, who represented Australia in the men's 4x100m relay final at the 2004 Athens Olympics, joins the Saints after a six-year stint with A-League club Melbourne Victory between 2006 and 2012.

 

More recently he established an elite performance business coaching professional athletes around Australia, including top draft hopeful Josh Kelly, whose pace improved notably this year.

 

"I am genuinely excited to be joining St Kilda ahead of the 2014 season," Basil said.

 

"The club is undergoing significant change within its player group and to be given the opportunity to work with some of Australia's best professional footballers will be a wonderful experience."

 

Basil, who will start with the Saints on Friday, replaces Davoren, who spent one season at Seaford before reuniting with Magpies football manager Rodney Eade.