St Kilda skipper Jarryn Geary will play a 14th season in red, white and black in 2021 after putting pen to paper this week.

The 202-game veteran signed on just days after leading the club back to the finals for the first time since 2011, and also welcoming a baby boy into the world.

Senior Coach Brett Ratten said Geary was revered for his leadership but also remains one of the club’s most important players on the field.

“Gears is one of the best leaders in the game and his influence on our group and our entire club is enormous,” Ratten said.

“He is an incredibly resilient person, and we have seen that first-hand over the past few years with the way he has dealt with his own injury setbacks, but also the challenges we’ve been through as a club.

“The way he supported his teammates through the shutdown period earlier this year and then his leadership within the hub has just been first-class.

“Whether it’s playing in defence, up forward or on a wing, we know every job we give him is going to be performed to a really high level and that’s such a luxury for a coach.

“Gears has had such a big impact on guys like Nick Coffield, Ben Long, Ben Paton and Hunter Clark, and just helping them understand what it takes to perform week-in, week-out throughout the year.

“We are very lucky to have someone like Jarryn at our football club, and we are so thrilled for him, Emma and Harriet with the arrival of Freddie last week.”