A midfield move was made out of anything but necessity for Tarni White.

Having been appointed St Kilda coach before the 2022 season, Nick Dal Santo was watching tape of every Saints AFLW game on the eve of his first days in the job when he spotted glimpses of White's immense potential across half-back.

The thoughts of the new St Kilda coaching group quickly turned to how they could turn White into a midfielder, and set about developing a plan for her big move in the immediate days after returning for pre-season training.

Ultimately, the absence of Georgia Patrikios for the entirety of last season due to the League's COVID-19 vaccination policy, in addition to the pre-season loss of Tyanna Smith to a ruptured ACL, meant midfield spots were vacant at RSEA Park.

But a move for White had long been planned by that point, and she has since repaid the club's faith in her potential by quickly emerging as one of the competition's most bright and exciting midfield prospects.

White, who was born and raised in Queensland and had played QAFLW with Coorparoo, moved to Victoria purely for football. The driven 21-year-old loves the game and was keen to be in its heartland at the top level.

Said to be among the most dedicated trainers at St Kilda, she has relished the responsibility of being played through the midfield and is a player determined to be involved in every moment of every match.

It's reflected in her growing numbers across the board, with Champion Data noting that White has significantly improved across a series of statistical components during each of her four seasons in the League.

This year, White ranks No.1 in the AFLW for tackles (10.5 per game) and is top-five for both ranking points (198 per game) and score involvements (five per game). She is in the top 10 for pressure points (56.3 per game) and contested possessions (11.5 per game).

But she's also winning more of the ball. Her disposal numbers have gone from 8.3 per game in year one, to 10.9 per game in year two, to 12.7 per game last season. To start the current campaign, she's averaging 17.5 disposals per match.

That complements career-high numbers for clearances (4.5 per game) and intercept possessions (five per game), evidence of her massive influence in St Kilda's unbeaten start to the season courtesy of a 29-point win over Sydney and a 53-point victory over Hawthorn.

This Sunday afternoon at RSEA Park, White and St Kilda will face a different type of challenge against an in-form Melbourne looking to go one better than last season's Grand Final defeat.

It will be a test of the Saints' improvement in year two under Dal Santo, and another hurdle for White to clear as she looks to continue her charge to becoming one of the AFLW's premier midfielders.