St Kilda Football Club is delighted to share that inaugural Saint and former captain Hannah Priest and her partner Jake are expecting their first child.

Priest shared the exciting news with her teammates on Monday and will sit out the remainder of the 2026 AFLW season.

The announcement comes on the eve of what would have been Priest’s 75th consecutive AFLW game, having not missed a match since making her debut in 2020.

A respected leader across the competition, Priest captained the Saints for six seasons, including five as sole captain, before passing the baton ahead of the 2026 season.

While she won’t take to the field for the remainder of the year, Priest will continue to play an important off-field role around the program and support the playing group throughout the season.

“We’re absolutely thrilled and feel incredibly lucky to be starting this next chapter,” Priest said.

“To share the news with the girls on Monday was really special. It’s been a pretty hard secret to keep, so I’m glad it’s finally out!

“The club and this group have been such a huge part of my life, so while I’m disappointed I won’t be out there for the rest of the season, I’m looking forward to staying involved and supporting the girls however I can.

“We haven’t had the start we would have hoped for, but my belief in this group couldn’t be stronger. There’s so much young talent coming through and a real desire to get better.

“I’ll always back this group and what we’re building, and I’m excited to keep playing my part from the sidelines.”

General Manager of AFLW Jessie Mulholland said Priest’s influence would remain significant despite her absence on-field.

“Hannah has given an enormous amount to this football club and our AFLW program,” Mulholland said.

“She has played such an important role in shaping our standards and culture, and we know she’ll continue to have a meaningful impact on the group.

“While we would have loved to see Hannah run out for her 75th game this weekend, there are some milestones that are bigger than football, and this is certainly one of them.

“We couldn’t be happier for Hannah and Jake, and we can’t wait to welcome a little Saint into the fold.”