AFLW leading goalkicker Kate Shierlaw has praised a host of new and returning Saints, whose impact was telling in the side's opening-round victory over the Swans.
Shierlaw, who booted a club-record four goals in the 29-point win, was the benefactor of an attack that has been bolstered by forward Nicola Stevens and ruck Erin McKinnon, with the All Australians impressing in their club debuts.
She said Stevens in particular had provided much-needed support for the Saints' developing forward line.
"She’s (Stevens) been a huge asset to us. She’s super competitive, so I think 'Ez' (Erin McKinnon) and her have brought that massively," Shierlaw told womens.afl's Credit to the Girls podcast.
"In the forward line she’s just a natural footballer, so I can trust her and rely on her to help others around the forward line as well. She’s added a lot of experience to a young forward line, besides me obviously, and she’s got everything - a beautiful kick, a good mark, strong at ground level, tackles like a machine and is ultra competitive."
The Saints' multi-pronged attack was one of the features of their win at North Sydney Oval, but it was at the other end of the ground where returning defender Clara Fitzpatrick made her presence felt.
The Irishwoman marked her first AFLW game in nearly two years in style, recording 11 disposals (82 per cent efficiency) and nine intercepts to keep the Swans at bay.
"She’s a beast of an athlete," Shierlaw said.
"I often match up with her at training and she doesn’t stop running. She’s quick, she’s strong, she’s tall and has every attribute you’d want in a player.
"She’s classic Irish – nothing fazes her and she’s very instinctual. She’s a ripper off the field, too, has great banter and is great to have around the club."
Like Fitzpatrick, dual club Best and Fairest Georgia Patrikios (18 disposals, five tackles, four clearances) starred in her return to earn three coaches' votes.
Shierlaw said the 21-year-old, who missed all of last season, was set to lead a talented young midfield which has also regained Olivia Vesely and Rosie Dillon, who were sidelined for large chunks of Season Six through injury.
"Last season we had a lot of girls in the midfield who were competitive and hard at it, but I think Georgia just provides the polish around that," she said.
"She’s more of the outside (midfielder) with her skills and composure, which are elite. It’s very nice to have that come back into the fold.
"I was saying to some of the other girls at training the other night that it’s nice to have that same core of midfielders run out each week, and hopefully they can stay on the park for the whole season because they make a big difference for us. They’re natural midfielders, so the more the young ones play together, the better they’ll be, and that will be better for the forward line."
The Saints will be looking to open an AFLW season with back-to-back wins for the first time in their history when they face newcomer Hawthorn at Box Hill City Oval from 4:10pm on Saturday.
Standing in their way will be former teammate Tilly Lucas-Rodd, who crossed over to the Hawks as the club's inaugural AFLW captain.
"We all love Tilly, we miss her, but she’s doing really good things at Hawthorn. It’ll be on this Sunday, and as soon as the siren goes we’ll be competing, but then we’ll be best mates afterwards," Shierlaw said.
"I’m sure Tilly will throw something our way. Someone said she said something about us in her press conference the other day, so I’ll have to give that a listen."
