Eight players will pull on the red, white and black for this first time this Sunday as St Kilda goes to battle against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena, with the new-look Saints further boosted by the return of Tyanna Smith.

Smith will take to the field for the first time since Round 9, 2021 after an ACL injury forced her out of action for all of 2022, seeing her miss both Seasons Six and Seven as a result.

Jesse Wardlaw, Steph Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert, Serene Watson, Maddie Boyd, Natalie Plane and Grace Kelly will represent their new club for the first time on Sunday afternoon, while Beth Pinchin was confirmed yesterday evening to be making her AFLW debut.

Wardlaw's maiden outing in club colours will coincide with her 50th career game, which to-date has featured All-Australian, Premiership and AFLW Leading Goalkicker honours.

Darcy Guttridge, Erin McKinnon and Caitlin Matthews have been selected as emergencies.

St Kilda will open its 2023 AFLW Season on Sunday 3 September at Tasmania's Blundstone Arena, locking horns with the Roos from 1:05pm.

Round 1

North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos v St Kilda
Sunday 3 September
1:05pm AEST, Blundstone Arena
Broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Official Live App

NEW: Boyd, Chiocci, Kelly, Lambert, Pinchin (debut), Plane, Wardlaw, Watson