Coach Ross Lyon has been rewarded for lifting St Kilda to the preliminary final this year with a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the AFL club until at least the end of 2010.

Lyon took over from Grant Thomas two seasons ago and had a difficult first year in charge as the Saints missed the finals for the first time in four years.

But they improved significantly in 2008, advancing to the third week of the finals before bowing out to eventual premiers Hawthorn.

"I'm really looking forward to the next few years at the Saints," said the 42-year-old Lyon, whose previous deal ran until the end of 2009.

"The club understands that we have a challenge ahead of us to bridge the gap to the competition leaders but we are in the process of building our list to a point where we have the confidence that we can compete with the best.

"I feel extremely privileged to be coaching at St Kilda.

"The club is about to enter a very exciting period and I will be doing everything that I can to repay the faith shown in me by the football club and also our supporters."

St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser described Lyon as "an outstanding fit and a valuable asset to our club".

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