ST KILDA has bolstered its off-field team around Alan Richardson, with Henry Playfair leaving Sydney to join the club as an assistant coach. 

Playfair has been an assistant under John Longmire for the past six seasons, steering the forward line from 2012-15 and the defence for the past two years.

It is anticipated the 34-year-old will take over the Saints' backline in a coaching re-shuffle under Richardson. 

The club last week announced that forward line coach Aaron Hamill would take over as senior coach of VFL affiliate Sandringham, with Lindsay Gilbee moving to a development role.

The Saints' team of assistants includes Level Four graduate and midfield coach Adam Kingsley, who is among the leading candidates for the vacant senior position at Gold Coast.

Rohan Welsh was in charge of the backline in 2017, with Danny Sexton the Saints' director of coaching and development. 

As well as Gilbee, the club has Simon McPhee, Ben McGlynn and Peta Searle in development roles, and Adam Skrobalak (ruck) and Danny Frawley (defence) in part-time positions. 

Further changes to the club's structure remain likely as an extension for Richardson draws close after four years in charge. 

Playfair played 52 games with Geelong between 2003-07 before seeking a trade to the Swans, where he added 16 games before retiring at the end of the 2010 season because of injury concerns. 

He started his coaching career as a development coach with the Swans in 2011, also leading the club's NEAFL team that year before earning promotion to assistant coach under Longmire. 

The Swans have been linked to retiring Greater Western Sydney forward Steve Johnson, who is set to enter coaching ranks next season. 

Veteran half-back Jarrad McVeigh has committed to a coaching role with the Swans once he retires after signing a one-year playing extension earlier this month.