At a glance:

• Sammie Johnson will make her debut on Saturday night against the Blues.
• The lifelong Saints fan was told the groundbreaking news on Thursday night to the pure joy of her teammates.
• Johnson says the Saints' culture and support of one another has been a major strength.

Footy is packed full of surprises.

But never could any of the fanatical Sainters in the Johnson household have imagined that their Sammie would end up playing for the red, white and black.

The seventh of 11 children will make her debut on Saturday at Ikon Park, bringing a seemingly impossible dream to reality. 

“It’s pretty special, especially to my dad’s side of the family, they’re all pretty crazy St Kilda supporters,” Johnson told saints.com.au. 

The former basketballer was in the gym doing her post-training workout when Peta Searle dropped the bombshell that she’d be making her debut on Saturday night. 

Her reaction: seemingly confusing for some of her teammates. 

“Half of the girls weren’t sure if I was upset or if I was happy, I was a bit emotional,” Johnson said. 

“They weren’t sure if I was crying because I was sad, or crying because I was happy.” 

To the versatile midfielder, it still hasn’t sunk in. 

Growing up idolising the great Robert Harvey – a fandom “drilled” into her “quite early” by her dad – and watching Lenny Hayes and Nick Riewoldt in awe, Johnson never imagined she’d follow in their footsteps and represent the Crest at the highest level. 

It’s something the No. 6 and fellow fervent Saints fan, Rhi Watt, have to remind each other of every now and then.

“I’m lucky enough to also have a locker right next to Rhi as well,” Johnson said. 

The pair share a close bond, beginning together at the Southern Saints before landing in St Kilda’s maiden AFLW side two seasons later.

Johnson finished runner-up in the Southern Saints’ inaugural best-and-fairest, while Watt and on-baller Alison Drennan took out top honours. 

“Rhi’s just so passionate about St Kilda as a whole,” Johnson said. 

“She’s really made her mark on the women’s program, especially as a captain of the club, and I couldn’t speak more highly of her.” 

But running out side-by-side with her wasn’t a guarantee as the red, white and black entered a new frontier. 

With a wealth of experienced AFLW players and a host of young talent bursting at the seams, Johnson recognised the possible challenge in front of her.

The No. 6 has been on the precipice of senior selection twice, but instead of losing morale as she was overlooked early in the piece, found strength from the team’s values. 

“I suppose I always knew from the start of pre-season that selection was going to be tough,” Johnson said. 

“One of the comments I made to Peta was that I didn’t regard the fact that I wasn’t selected or named as emergency, because I still very much felt part of the group. 

That mantra is what has kept the red, white and black a tight-knit group, and won over a strong and united fanbase in the process. 

But when day turns to night, the gravity of the lifelong Saints fan playing her first game in the famous tricolours will start to hit home. 

“I think I’m going to be highly nervous,” Johnson said. 

“I know what I’ve been put in the side for.  I’ve got to not overthink it: I’m going in there to be physical.  I understand that and that’s how I play the game. 

“When I lay my first tackle, or bump my opponent, I’ll be ready to go.”