St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena confirmed the club increased Callum Wilkie's contract by a "couple more years" after significant interest was shown by the Western Bulldogs.

Wilkie has largely been seen to be paid unders for his extraordinary efforts as a key defender in the Saints' line-up, claiming an All-Australian blazer in 2023, the Trevor Barker Medal in 2024, and finishing second to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera this year.

He was also forced to hear the contracts offered to incoming free agents Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, which are suspected to chew up at least $2 million in salary cap space per year over the next few campaigns.

St Kilda has also welcomed Sam Flanders on reported big money, while the acquisition of Leek Aleer and contracted Eagle Liam Ryan will also not be on chump change.

This opened the door for a rival club (Bulldogs) to vet its interest in Wilkie, and offered just less than $4.5 million over four seasons.

The defensive squeeze would have also been posed to the left-footer, despite his lock as the Moorabbin club's number one backman.

However, the Saints came to the party to retain their co-captain, who is set for a promotion in 2026 due to Jack Steele stepping down, adjusting his current contract to more accurately reflect his value at the club.

"He's such a well-regarded person within the club and well-liked, and demonstrates great leadership skills and a great player for us. Ross was very keen to keep him and had chats with him," Dilena said on AFL Trade Radio.

He wanted that security of tenure, and our commitment to him wasn't so much changing what he has got, with two years to go, but adding on at the back end of that, so he's got a longer period of contract. He was really good with that process and happy to recommit.

"I think there's a couple of years added on, which extends out his tenure."

Wilkie was initially signed on until the end of 2027, a deal he agreed to in 2023.