At a glance:

• Rising Star Olivia Vesely's plans for a relaxing off-season were swiftly ended after COVID-19 rocked the AFL industry.
• The young Saint talked about the impact of the Saints' abrupt finish to Season 2020 and how she spent the past few months in isolation.
• Vesely picked up work at StarTrack, becoming friends with Jonathon Marsh, Nicholas Hind and Oscar Clavarino.

Liv Vesely had it all planned out.

Some time to relax after the Saints’ AFLW season – university deferred as a result – before the VFLW season got underway a few months later seemed to be foolproof.

Then, COVID-19 hit.

Vesely’s idea of a break came much earlier than she anticipated as St Kilda’s final two games and a possible finals appearance were struck from the history books.

“The last week of it was really wild,” Vesely told saints.com.au.

“We just went into the club and pretty much got told about the whole situation and then had to get our stuff and get out of there.    

“It was like Year 12, we all packed up our lockers, couldn’t leave anything in there, and then it was all done.”

Just like that, RSEA Park’s buzzing halls became silent.

And as everyone prepared to hunker down in isolation, Vesely – who had developed shin splints and was restricted to light duties – was left to imagine what could have been.

But even with her plans derailed, the 20-year-old has kept her hands full.

Frantic emails to re-enrol in university classes, picking up piano, home DIY renovation projects, reading and cleaning (both of which class in the ‘procrastination’ category) and “non-step texting” Ali Brown for help with homework have taken up a lot of the youngster’s time.

But most time-intensive was her work at StarTrack, with Vesely joining the ranks alongside several St Kilda players and staff as COVID-19 rocked the AFL industry.

Vesely struck up friendships with Saints Nicholas Hind, Jonathon Marsh and Oscar Clavarino during her time there, and in what was a surprise to no-one, discovered they got along like a house on fire.

“I was working in a group with Jon, Clav and Nick and some of the staff – Dim and Jack were legends – and became quite good friends with them all,” Vesely said.

“Caitlin Greiser and Peta Searle were in the same shift, so that was great also.

“It was so nice to get to know them and have a laugh with all of them.

“Both Nick and Jon are incredibly chatty, so they kept our group laughing and the days went by quite quickly when they were around.

“I’m not sure how good we all were at the actual packing aspect of the job though!”

And while the world has been turned upside-down these past few months and the VFLW Season remains in doubt, the lure and the sense of belonging at RSEA Park remains strong.

“I really do miss it,” Vesely said.

“Even just being there at the footy club, you just take being part of a team and being able to do simple things – exercising together, sharing a joke and little things like that – a bit for granted.

“It makes you really value everything a lot more I think, don’t you agree?”