IT truly was a case of so close, yet so far for St Kilda in 2023. The Saints got so close to making the finals for the first time, but were denied a spot in the finals by less than five percent.

But heading into 2024, did they learn the right lessons from the heartbreak of 2023 and finally break through for a finals berth in 2024?

TEAM LIST

#1 Molly McDonald
#2 Nicola Stevens
#3 Alice Burke
#4 Kiera Whiley
#5 Darcy Guttridge
#6 Tyanna Smith
#7 J’Noemi Anderson
#8 Bianca Jakobsson
#9 Jaimee Lambert
#10 Paige Trudgeon
#11 Grace Kelly
#12 Serene Watson
#14 Hannah Priest
#15 Nat Exon
#16 Ella Friend
#17 Stephanie Chiocci
#18 Hannah Stuart
#19 Rene Caris
#20 Rebecca Ott
#21 Georgia Patrikios
#22 Ashleigh Richards
#23 Olivia Vesely
#24 Beth Pinchin*
#27 Nicola Xenos
#28 Caitlin Matthews
#29 Madeleine Boyd
#30 Jesse Wardlaw
#32 Natalie Plane
#33 Charlotte Simpson
#34 Simone Nalder
#50 Emmelie Fiedler

* inactive

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Kiera Whiley, Paige Trudgeon, Rene Caris, Charlotte Simpson, Emmelie Fiedler

Out: Beth Pinchin (inactive), Deanna Jolliffe, Erin McKinnon, Renee Saulitis, Rosie Dillon, Jayde van Dyk

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 31 vs Gold Coast at People First Stadium

Match 2: September 8 vs Sydney at RSEA Park

Match 3: September 15 vs Essendon at Windy Hill

Match 4: September 21 vs Hawthorn at RSEA Park

Match 5: September 27 vs Fremantle at RSEA Park

Match 6: October 4 vs Adelaide at Norwood Oval

Match 7: October 8 vs GWS at Kinetic Stadium

Match 8: October 13 vs Melbourne at RSEA Park

Match 9: October 18 vs Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval

Match 10: October 27 vs Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium

Match 11: TBC vs Brisbane at RSEA Park

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can they finally break the finals duck?

One thing the Saints are yet to achieve in their AFLW history is making finals, but they did get agonisingly close last season. They have been building for a number of years now, but is this the year they finally break that ceiling and make the finals?

Can they work their systems to make sure Jesse Wardlaw can afford to stay forward?

As much as Jesse Wardlaw was a massive get for the Saints last season, the problem was that she was so valuable in so many different places on the field, she could not stay forward and just kick goals. The question is, can the Saints rejig their systems to keep Wardlaw forward and subsequently lift their scoring rate?

PLAYER TO WATCH

J’noemi Anderson

Injuries have not been Anderson’s friend in recent seasons, with the club being cautious with her last season after returning from an ACL.

But with another preseason under her belt, will the Saints finally let her loose properly and let her show why she was such a high draft pick in 2022?

PREDICTION

This might just be a historic year for the Saints. They have been building for a number of years now, they have all the pieces they need and they will have learnt from the heartbreak of last season and will finally crack the top eight. Their finals berth may end up being short and sharp, but after years of frustration just making the finals will be huge for the Saints and their fans.