ST KILDA has bolstered its football department, adding several new personnel in a bid to improve the players' physical management in a bid to stop the constant run of injuries that has derailed its premiership campaigns in recent years.

The Saints have possessed arguably one of the best lists in the AFL competition in recent years but injuries have hindered hopes of premiership success.

Last year, Luke Ball battled osteitis pubis and could not capture his best form, while other senior players such as Brendon Goddard, Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire and Raphael Clarke all missed big parts of the season because of serious injury.

And former captain Aaron Hamill and recruit Michael Gardiner could not get on the field all season because of long-term injuries.

Chief executive Archie Fraser said greater stability at the club and a commitment from the new board led by Greg Westaway had allowed the Saints to expand the staff to tackle the medical issues that had dogged the club.

"We feel like we came back in October and that we have got our act together," Fraser said. "When the players came back at the end of October-early November, they came back to a fully professional football set-up, which with the appointment of Matthew Drain, David Misson, Dr Tim Barbour, Andrew Wallis, the physio, all of them have been additional people that have high levels of credibility and professionalism.

"I think the playing group have come back with the realisation that we really have settled down and delivered," he said.

Misson joins St Kilda from Sydney, where as the strength and conditioning coach, he worked with the club, helping it to a premiership and overseeing its finals campaigns.

The Saints played their first intraclub practice match on Friday night, resting several big-name players. Some of those missing such as Hudghton and Nick Riewoldt will play for the Saints in their first NAB Cup match next Friday night.

New football manager Drain said in general, the level of fitness among the Saints players had lifted since the resumption of training after Christmas.

At this time of the year, all clubs will claim their improving fitness and readiness for the coming year, but Drain said what was more important was the players' ability to gel as a unit.

"This (is) a time that has to be about coming together and that is happening and that is something that you can't measure."