St Kilda's Moorabbin homecoming will help keep the club afloat during the AFL's financial crisis, Saints chief executive Matt Finnis says.
With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the AFL until at least May 31, clubs are axing staff to survive the unprecedented lockdown period.
After an ill-fated move to shift their headquarters to Seaford in 2010, St Kilda headed back to their spiritual home in 2018.
Finnis said the decision to reinvigorate Moorabbin's RSEA Park would prove crucial for the survival of the club, which was founded in 1873.
The Saints are in about $12 million of debt.
"While it's my job to be concerned and our people will have anxieties, I want to reassure our members that our footy club has never been better positioned for the future," Finnis told SEN.
"People talk about our debt, but they don't talk as much about the priority of a decision that we made to raise $30 million.
"Build a foundation, an asset, at Moorabbin which will keep this footy club in a great place for many years to come.
"I want our members to know that we appreciate their support, we're thriving off their support and it gives us all a lift in dark times.
"We'll need them to get back on board when we get up and going and to come and show their support in droves for the red, white and black."
St Kilda were tipped as a big improver for 2020 after recruiting big names like Fremantle's Bradley Hill during last year's trade period.
Australian Associated Press
