St Kilda president Greg Westaway has hailed the appointment of Scott Watters as the Saints' new senior coach as the "dawn of an exciting new era" for the club.
Watters, 42, was this morning at a press conference confirmed as Ross Lyon's successor, for an initial three-year term.
He was flanked by St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, Westaway and chief executive Michael Nettlefold.
Watters was chosen ahead of two highly-rated senior assistant coaches: Gold Coast's Ken Hinkley and Carlton's Alan Richardson.
He is the third Collingwood assistant coach from 2011 - Nathan Buckley (Collingwood) and Mark Neeld (Melbourne) are the others - to be promoted to a senior role next season.
The new coach said he was delighted to have taken over at St Kilda.
"It is exciting. It's a group that I've admired from an opposition, competitive point of view for the past three years," Watters said.
He also expressed how much he admired the club's "spirit".
Watters' appointment will allow him input into the Saints' trade plans, with the trade window closing at 2pm tomorrow.
St Kilda was the last of the five clubs whose senior coaches departed this season - Collingwood, Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Bulldogs were the others - to secure a replacement, although its vacancy was also the last to emerge.
Westaway defended the length of time it took to appoint Watters.
"If you can get someone of this quality anywhere in four weeks I think you've done a good job," he said.
