VETERAN defender Nathan Brown is set to earn a career lifeline and sign a one-year extension to play on at St Kilda for 2020.

Kept in limbo by the Saints during the Telstra AFL Trade Period, Brown is working through the final stages of negotiations to take the final contract available at Moorabbin for next season.

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With former Port Adelaide key defender Dougal Howard arriving as one of five Saints' trade coups last week, Brown's future had appeared uncertain.

However, with Jack Newnes' delisting on Friday morning taking the total number of departures from the Saints' senior list to nine, Brown will extend his career into a 12th season.

There is a belief Howard could also play parts in attack at the Saints next year, with Josh Bruce departing for the Western Bulldogs and Max King to develop alongside Paddy Ryder.



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That would see Brown form part of the key defensive group that includes Jake Carlisle, Callum Wilkie, Josh Battle and Jonathon Marsh.

The 30-year-old played 16 matches for the Saints this year, taking his career tally to 183 after spending the first 10 years of his career at Collingwood.

He tasted premiership success for the Pies against the Saints in the 2010 Grand Final.