Fresh from having secured vice-captain Lenny Hayes and star midfielder Leigh Montagna on new long-term deals, St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser has described as "laughable" speculation the Saints could soon lose captain Nick Riewoldt to the AFL's new Gold Coast team.

Hayes, who shared the captaincy with Riewoldt and Luke Ball last year, has signed to stay with the Saints until the end of the 2011 season while Montagna - one of the most improved players in the AFL over the past two years - has signed on until the end of 2010.

Fraser said the re-signings of the star pair sent a clear signal to rival clubs that the Saints intend to keep their talented group intact at a time when the club believes it is on the verge of genuinely challenging for its first premiership since 1966.

"It is important to get your core group of players locked away," Fraser said on Tuesday.

"But if you create the right working environment for the playing group and if you expect to play in finals footy over the next few years, which we are confident we will do, then we expect to keep all the players we want to keep."

And that definitely includes Riewoldt - despite constant speculation the Gold Coast native will be the top recruiting target for the AFL's new team, which is expected to join the competition in 2012.

"It's laughable really," Fraser said of the constant speculation linking Riewoldt to a move back to the Gold Coast.

"He is our club captain, a four-time best and fairest winner and he has got a three year contract which he only signed just last year."

"Everything Nick tells us indicates that he will be here for a long period of time and his passion for the club is resolute."

Meanwhile Hayes, who began his career with the Saints way back in 1999, believes his latest contract will be his last long-term deal with the club but is confident it will be the one that finally delivers that long-awaited premiership.

"Definitely (a flag is within reach over the next four years), I see no reason why not," he said.

"Obviously it's a tough competition and so even but with the group we have got and with everything settled off the field, if we can keep everyone out there this year we will have a good year."

Hayes said this latest contract may well prove to be his swansong given he will be near 32 by the time it ends.

"I am rapt to sign up until the end of 2011," he said.

"I have been involved with the club almost 10 years and this contract will almost see me out at the club."

"I still think I have got a lot of footy ahead of me but when I do come out of this contract I will be on the veteran list and when you get to that stage it becomes a year to year thing."

Hayes said ending the club's long premiership drought - particularly after coming so close in 2004 and 2005 - was behind the decision of many of the Saints' key players to stick with the club when they could probably get more money elsewhere.

"There might be a couple of players who may have been offered more from other clubs but we have got a real chance to build something here and we are at a club that hasn't had a lot of success and I think that is a real driving force for the current playing group."