Fremantle have appointed former St Kilda player and Fox Footy football analyst Leigh Montagna as the club’s opposition analyst.

Fremantle general manager of football Peter Bell said Montagna, who played 287 games for St Kilda between 2002 and 2017 and earned All Australian honours in 2009 and 2010, would play an important role as a part of the team’s weekly pre-game preparation and planning.

“Leigh had an outstanding playing career, after which he successfully transitioned to working as a football analyst in the media following his retirement as a player in 2017. We are really pleased to have someone with Leigh’s knowledge and expertise on board at the club,” Bell said.

“Leigh also has a great understanding of the modern game and we’re looking forward to having his input as a part of our pre-game planning and opposition analysis.

“He already has a great working relationship with Ross Lyon from their five seasons together at St Kilda, and the process we have been through with Leigh this week at the club means he will be able to hit the ground running.”

Montagna will be based in Melbourne for the full-time role and will commence in March.