ST Kilda has made the perfect start to the 2024 AFL Women’s season, defeating Sydney on the weekend to maintain its undefeated start to the season.

After beating the Swans, St Kilda has now equalled its best start to an AFL Women’s season, and if they beat Essendon this week the Saints will set a new club record for their best start to a season.

One area that the Saints have really improved this season is their inside 50 efficiency. They currently have the second best inside 50 efficiency in the entire competition, only behind GWS.

It has also been something that has been steadily increasing over the past few years, from a figure of -minus-12.3 per cent in season seven, to minus-1.3 per cent last season and now plus-50.3 per cent so far this season. There is also a correlation between improved figures in the number of inside 50s the Saints are recording and an improvement in their overall disposal efficiency.

But in a practical sense, how do these improved figures translate into what is happening out on the field? With last weekend’s match against Sydney as the case study, let us take a look.

One particularly noticeable aspect of St Kilda’s game has been the slight positional changes of a few key players. They have not been drastic changes, but they have given decent enough positive impacts to the way St Kilda has played in 2024.

The first change relates to vice-captain Bianca Jakobsson. Normally one to roam the last line of defence, Jakobsson has been given the freedom to push further up the ground, almost playing that defensive midfielder type role.

That change gives the Saints a solid base from which to work up the ground from, because Jakobsson is one of the most experienced heads in the St Kilda line up, and her calmness under pressure allows St Kilda to confidently have a base from which to build attacks on from.

The second changes relates to Grace Kelly. Kelly is someone who has played more off the half-back in past seasons, but this season has transitioned into more of a wing role, allowing her to use her running abilities to get things moving for the Saints through midfield.

These positional changes for a few players have generated flow on affects for other players too.

The most obvious one of these is Jesse Wardlaw, who last season in her first year at St Kilda was forced to play far too high up the ground  and not be at her most dangerous inside forward 50 very often. This season, with the increase in the strength of the ball movers St Kilda has through its midfield, it has allowed Wardlaw to stay as that deeper forward and remain dangerous closer to goal.

One notable absence from St Kilda’s midfield this season has been Georgia Patrikios, who is yet to take the field this season after suffering a foot injury in the preseason. However, it can be argued that her absence is not actually a costly thing for her team.

Although when comparing the pair Patrikios has been more efficient with ball in hand over her AFLW career than Kelly has, Kelly takes the chocolates in metres gained. Kelly’s average metres gained in two matches this season is better than Patrikios’ average for her entire four-season career in the AFLW, and the pair have now both played the exact same number of games.

For a team that has been building and building over a number of years like St Kilda has, the fact that everything is now clicking together is exciting for all connected with the club. The question will be whether or not as they begin to face tougher competition, can the changes and subsequent improvement keep the Saints on the same trajectory.