I'll lead if you want, Nick

Leigh Montagna (left) would be happy to lead the Saints if Nick Riewoldt didn't put his hand up for the job. Source: News Limited

ST KILDA veteran Leigh Montagna admits he'd seriously consider captaining the Saints if he had the support of his teammates and Nick Riewoldt didn't want to continue in the role.

But Montagna, speaking at training at Seaford this morning, said he expected Riewoldt to again lead the Saints.

The club has called in Leading Teams to restructure its leadership role after the organisation played key part in remodelling other clubs, including Sydney and Geelong.

PIC GALLERY: SAINTS SWEAT IT OUT

He said he still believed Riewoldt was the man for the captaincy, but they would conduct the Leading Teams model on the leadership.

"I would think that Nick would clearly still be the man for the job but I can't see why that would change," he said.

"But with the Leading Teams model we will go through the formal procedures and pick a leadership group and from there pick the captain. I would certainly expect Nick to do it if he wants to do it."

SAINTS' WOES SET TO GO

Despite last week's blistering heat, Montagna said the players didn't ease off and revealed that new coach Alan Richardson's mantra was to keep going and no-one would be backing off or taking any short cuts.

He said Richardson's motto was that he'd prefer the players to wear out, rather than rust out.

"He would rather have guys pushing themselves to the limit, rather than backing off," Montagna said.

"That's probably something that has been a challenge for some guys but it's good.

"We were just told that it was probably our heaviest load week we have done in the pre-season so far and in those conditions.

"It's been a good challenge for the boys, all mental challenges and at the same time we are getting our conditioning."

Montagna in action late last year. Source: News Limited

After training in the snow at Boulder, Colorado, during the club's two-week, high-altitude training camp late last year, Montagna said he felt like being back there after last week's stifling conditions.

Montagna said it was obvious that the players wanted the team to improve after being on a downward trend for the past two seasons.

"How long it takes we don't know," he said.

"I suppose the positive having Richo come from Port Adelaide is that he has been there when it's happened pretty quickly and it gives us a lot of confidence that it is possible and as he said it all happened with Port Adelaide the year before working hard in the pre-season and building that confidence that you have done the work. And that's where we are at the moment and we'll see where that takes us come the season."

SAINTS' STARS REUNITE

Montagna said Richardson had been honest with the players and given them support when they're going well and would also issue a rev and give feedback on the spot and tell those who needed to lift their game.

Football isn't the only pressing issue for Montagna.

At the moment Montagna and his fiancee Erinn have been forced to find alternative arrangements for their wedding on Saturday week following the fire which destroyed the iconic St Kilda Stokehouse on Friday night.

He said that after Erinn had spent 10 months organising their wedding at The Stokehouse, she now had two weeks to re-organise it another venue.

"We haven't got a venue yet, but we spent the weekend brainstorming and my fiancee has taken a couple of days off work and she'll get on to it today," Montagna said.

"I'm sure it will still end up being a good day."


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