And just like that, Round 1 is upon us.

The extended break between seasons is almost at an end, with St Kilda to reignite its AFLW campaign against the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos at Blundstone Arena tomorrow afternoon.

So before the big day arrives, get up to speed on all the new and returning faces in red, white and black, the unique stats and stories heading into Round 1, plus plenty more.

Eight new mates

When over a third of the starting line-up is featuring in St Kilda colours for the first time, it definitely constitutes as a ‘new-look’ outfit.

Ex-Magpies Jaimee Lambert and Steph Chiocci, Queenslanders-turned-Victorians Jesse Wardlaw (Brisbane) and Serene Watson (Gold Coast), former Blue Natalie Plane, the well-travelled Maddie Boyd (Melbourne, GWS, Geelong), cross-code convert Grace Kelly (West Coast) and debutant Beth Pinchin make up the incoming octet, with the latter featuring at senior level for the first time after spending a season on Brisbane’s list.

It’s the most new faces the Saints have fielded at one time since its inaugural match in 2020, while the opening rounds of season 2021, 2022 and Season Seven saw six, three and three new players debut respectively.

A stronghold down south

There’s a Kangaroos streak the Saints will be keen on disrupting come Sunday afternoon, especially if they are to start the season on a winning note.

Between Tasmanian venues York Park, North Hobart Oval and the scene of Sunday’s showdown, Blundstone Arena, North Melbourne remain undefeated after 10 encounters dating back to 2019. 

St Kilda’s own interstate record boasts a 2-4 ledger; the most recent win coming in the opening round of Season Seven against Sydney.

Welcome back, T

It’s hard to believe when you read it, but it has been a staggering 889 days since Tyanna Smith last took to the field in red, white and black.

The pacy and classy young gun had her follow-up campaign to an electric debut season cut short after rupturing her ACL a few weeks out from the start of 2022, ruling her out for that season and the next.

Smith’s impact as a teenager was immediate, snaring runner-up honours at the club’s Best & Fairest, the Best Emerging Player Award and a Rising Star nomination to boot.

Here’s to hoping she’ll pick right up where she left off.

Duel of the key forwards

There’s a new Saints spearhead in town.

All-Australian and AFLW Leading Goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw is set to take charge of St Kilda’s revamped forward line from this season onward, filling the role left by the departed Caitlin Greiser (Richmond) and Kate Shierlaw (North Melbourne) with her athleticism on the lead, physicality against rival defenders and most importantly, damaging skillset in front of goal.

Wardlaw’s debut Saints appearance will coincide with her 50th AFLW game, with a few snags to boot a perfect way to salute her new chapter in red, white and black.

Up the other end for the opposition will be Shierlaw, who will similarly debut in her new club colours after requesting a trade to the Roos at the end of last season.

With Rebecca Ott sidelined with an Achilles injury, it will likely be fellow club Best & Fairest Bianca Jakobsson who will get the match-up on her former teammate and help lessen the impact of the new Roo.

A bit has changed

If the cliche “a week is a long time in football” holds true, then two years must inevitably see quite a bit of change.

That couldn’t be truer since the last - and only other - time the Saints and Roos have butted heads all the way back in Round 2, 2021 at Arden Street, with only five players from this week’s side featuring in that last encounter.

Molly McDonald, Hannah Priest, Tyanna Smith, Georgia Patrikios and Bianca Jakobsson were part of the Saints squad who took the field that day, and will do so again in the hopes of turning the tide in Sunday’s Saints-Roos rematch.