Saints cut veteran Gilbert from AFL list

AFL veteran Sam Gilbert says he'll weigh up his future after being told by St Kilda that he won't be offered a contract for next year.

St Kilda have cut veteran Sam Gilbert from their list. (AAP)

St Kilda have axed veteran Sam Gilbert, telling the 32-year-old defender he won't be offered a contract for the next AFL season.

Gilbert, who played 208 AFL games for the Saints, hasn't ruled out continuing his career at another club.

"I will take my time to weigh up what is next but I respect the club's decision," Gilbert said in a statement on Wednesday.

Saints coach Alan Richardson praised Gilbert's selfless contribution in his 13-year career at the club.

"Gilbo has played some strong footy for us this season but we also have to balance that with the fact that we have a number of young defenders coming through," Richardson said in a statement.

"It's up to the young guys to step up and make that position their own next season and play with the same team-first attitude and physicality that Gilbo always did."

Gilbert is the fifth player delisted by St Kilda since season's end with Hugh Goddard, Nathan Freeman, Nathan Wright and Ray Connellan cut, while Koby Stevens has retired.