St Kilda has named three new faces for its opening round encounter against Gold Coast, with AFLW first-gamer Charlotte Simpson and club debutants Rene Caris and Paige Trudgeon forming Saturday’s side.
Simpson has made an impressive start to life as a Saint after joining the club as a father-daughter selection at last year’s AFLW Draft, folding seamlessly into the midfield mix of Jaimee Lambert, Tyanna Smith and Olivia Vesely.
Trudgeon and Caris will take the key defensive and ruck reins respectively after arriving at St Kilda as part of last season’s Trade Period; Trudgeon after 21 appearances for Carlton and Caris 17 between Geelong and GWS.
The Queensland-bound Saints will also be buoyed by the return of Hannah Stuart for Saturday night’s game, who was ruled out of last season by Round 2 after a seemingly innocuous ACL injury.
Maddie Boyd, Nat Plane and Caitlin Matthews have been named as emergencies.
Meanwhile, two-time Best & Fairest Georgia Patrikios will miss at least the next eight weeks with a foot injury.
St Kilda and Gold Coast will open their seasons this Saturday night at People First Stadium at 5:05pm, with the game broadcast on 7Mate (Queensland), Fox Footy and Kayo.
Round 1
Gold Coast v St Kilda
Saturday 31 August
5:05pm, People First Stadium
Broadcast live on 7Mate (Queensland), Fox Footy and Kayo
