ZAC Dawson has walked out on St Kilda but the Saints have re-signed Sean Dempster, Farren Ray, Brett Peake, Dean Polo and Raph Clarke.

Dawson is the major casualty of the Saints' salary cap pressure, with the club confirming this morning he rejected the club's contract offer.

He is been widely linked to former coach Ross Lyon at Fremantle, but will have to get there via the draft.

In better news, the club has confirmed new deals for tagger Dempster, who finished third in this year's best-and-fairest award, along with other uncontracted players Ray, Peake, Polo and Clarke.

Reliable defender Jason Blake will be delisted but the Saints will recruit him again in the draft.

The unusual move helps the club recalibrate its salary cap payments by moving Blake from the veteran to primary list.

“We are extremely pleased to have finalised our primary list ahead of the 2011 AFL national draft,” Saints head of football Chris Pelchen said.

“These players have indicated their commitment to the Saints, supporting the future direction of the St Kilda Football Club."

The club said Dawson’s management "has informed the club that it has declined the offer of a contract extension and that he wishes to seek opportunities elsewhere".

Originally published as Zac walks, but Saints keep five