St Kilda defender Sam Fisher expects this year's grand final defeat to be all the motivation his teammates need going into 2010.

Fisher was a member of the Saints team which lost by 12 points to Geelong in the grand final, but the 27-year-old says the team has the drive to bounce back from that disappointment.

"We came so close, but didn't quite get there so I'm sure the boys' burning desire will be greater than ever," he told AAP.

"We were a hungry side last year and that probably makes us even hungrier to go one better next year.

"I think our young guys got back on Monday, they started their first day, and the guys with over five years playing experience start next Wednesday so we're all looking forward to getting back."

St Kilda's 2008 best-and-fairest winner said the disappointment of losing a grand final was surely still with the players, but the off-season would have tempered that desolation into determination going into next season.

"It's good to have a break, refresh the mind and body," he said.

"Seven weeks have gone by now and I'm sure most guys are pretty keen to get back into it."

And while the Saints' main playing group are yet to begin their pre-season, Fisher said a key to their sparkling 2009 form had been their preparation work leading into Christmas last year.

He said given the later start to their pre-season this time around, trying to replicate last year's effort would be crucial to avoiding any hangover effect come the start of next season.

"The longer you go the year before it makes that period before Christmas that bit shorter," he said.

"So it's really crucial that most blokes do their preparation not only when we get back but also after the break as well.

"That's what the positive was last year, everyone came back and trained really hard."

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