Horsham's Ella Friend is loving her time so far with St Kilda's AFLW side

The former Horsham Saint was taken by the aptly named St Kilda Saints at pick four in the 2021 AFLW draft, after a standout year for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the NAB League.

Friend who only recently turned 18, has almost completed her first preseason at the elite level.

She has also started working at the Saints' café as she waits for university offers to be released.

"It's been awesome," Friend said of her time at the club so far.

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"It's obviously been a big step up but the girls have welcomed me with open arms and so have the coaches, so it's been pretty good.

"I've had to work pretty hard to try and get fit and keep up with some of the girls that have been playing for several years.

"The resources we have are pretty good, it's top level."

During the Saints' preseason loss to Carlton, Friend played in the backline and showed "fantastic signs" according to new coach - former Saint Nick Dal Santo.

"We did rotate them (Friend and fellow draftee Ash Richards) and manage them carefully given the temperature and their first exposure to senior football, but we were really pleased with how they went and the improvement they've made in a small period of time," Dal Santo said on St Kilda's website.

The AFLW season gets underway on Friday as the Saints take on Richmond in the season opener at Skybus Stadium.

Friend is none the wiser as to whether she will make her debut in the round one clash, with the team to be named closer to the date.

"I'm just waiting and seeing," she said.

"I have no idea, so hopefully I get the surprise of hearing my name picked but if not I'll just have to keep working."

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After placing 11th in 2021 the Saints will be hoping for an improved finish in 2022 under Dal Santo, who Friend said has been "pretty awesome" to learn from.

Unfortunately the Saints will be hampered by the loss of promising ruck Tyanna Smith for the season (ACL injury) and are sweating on the availability of reigning best and fairest Georgia Patrikios, who was yet to be vaccinated in late November.

They have added some new faces to the club including Lucy Burke (Southern Saints), Ash Richards (draftee) and Alana Woodward (delisted Richmond free agent).

As far as personal goals for the season Friend is keeping it simple.

"(I'm aiming) to hopefully play a game and hopefully get a few games this year," she said.

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