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RUCKMAN Tom Hickey will remain a Saint until at least the end of 2017 after recently recommitting to the club.

Hickey had been due to come out of contract at the end of this season but AFL.com.au understands he re-signed with the Saints for another two years last month.

The Queenslander was one of Gold Coast's original local access selections in 2009 along with players such as Charlie Dixon, Rory Thompson and Zac Smith, but crossed to St Kilda in the 2012 trade period after 12 games in two seasons with the Suns.

The 24-year-old has played just nine senior games in 2015, with the Saints opting to play Billy Longer as their sole ruckman at times this season.

But Hickey and Longer showed they could be an effective combination in last Saturday's loss against North Melbourne at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.

With Longer shouldering most of the Saints' ruck duties and keeping North star Todd Goldstein quiet by his lofty 2015 standards, Hickey showed he could have an impact as a forward.

The former Sun was a constant aerial threat against the Roos, exploiting a mismatch against North's third tall Michael Firrito to take a team-high six contested marks.

He also kicked two goals but should probably have kicked four, having missed a couple of relatively straight-forward chances.

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said after the game that Hickey had a bright future at the club.

"He hasn't had the opportunities he would like, but Hickey's one of those guys who's still learning his craft, he's improving all the time," Richardson said.

"He didn't quite complete some of his plays (against North), but he was able to mark the ball against a pretty strong defence. They're in really good knick back there, so he looked damaging.

"He's got a lot of footy left for us, absolutely."

Hickey has played 27 games at St Kilda.

After a career-high 12 matches in his first season at Seaford, 2013, foot and knee injuries restricted him to six games last year.