St Kilda have elevated Jack Billings to the club's leadership group to fill the place of the injured Dylan Roberton, who has already revealed he'll miss the season.

The Age understands Billings, 23, was told of the decision in the aftermath of Roberton announcing that he would take a year out of the game following the latest concern surrounding his heart.

Billings has played 85 games in his five seasons at the Saints and the club internally holds high hopes for him in 2019, given he's had more than 90 shots on goal in the last two seasons.

The midfielder/forward was taken with the No.3 pick overall in the 2013 draft.

More to come