PORT ADELAIDE’s AFLW players returned to Alberton for the start of pre-season training on Monday, and midfielder Sachi Syme says the work the group put in over the off-season is already evident.

Players were put through fitness testing and a grueling first session on the track under the watch of senior coach Lauren Arnell.

Among those working hard at Alberton Oval were seven of the club’s eight off-season recruits, with the most recent Teagan Germech still finalising her move from Sydney.

Speaking after the session, Syme discussed what the new faces will bring to the group, expectations for the season, and filling the leadership void left by the retirement of former captain Erin Phillips.

The 19-year-old, already heading into her third season, also spoke about the expanded AFLW fixture and kicking off the season with a blockbuster home Showdown.

Sachi Syme on pre-season training kicking off on Monday:

“We've obviously had a massive offseason; we've been working really hard so all of us girls are super keen to get into it.

“Coming in, I was only 17 so it was a massive jump for me straightaway but this year it will be massive again for me and the development of all the girls. Even just our team specifically, we've grown heaps. We've had a massive offseason this year and we're really looking forward to cracking straight in.”

Sachi Syme on coach Lauren Arnell returning from parental leave following the birth of her first child:

“We've seen (Lauren) a fair bit. We've had all our coaches meeting - so each of us have had a chat to her already - and she's straight out on the track today. She has been around heaps (in the off-season), and she's here heaps to support us.”

Sachi Syme on the expectations for season 2024:

“We obviously want to win as many games as possible - that's the aim for us this season. We're going to go into it, and just really focus on winning as many games as we can.

“We've had a really big offseason. We've really worked on our fitness so that's going to be massive for us. And the connection within the group is really awesome at the moment. We spent a heap of time with everyone over the offseason so we're going to be really straight into it.”

Sachi Syme on the club’s eight new off-season recruits:

“We've obviously got a few new girls on the list, so new coaches, new girls, it's going to be really awesome. And we're really ready to win as many games as we can from the start.

“We've got obviously (Kirsty Lamb) Lamby coming in, she's going to bring a heap of experience. She's going to be really good for us because we do have a fair few young girls. But like I said, they're highly capable and they've been working really hard this offseason.

“I think we did need a bit of a change. They're going to bring heaps of talent to our group this year, and they're highly capable of coming straight in and really helping us win those games. And yeah, we've got heaps of depth on our list this year so we're going to be fine coming into the season.”

Sachi Syme on the club’s first season without former captain Erin Phillips:

“Erin’s gone now. She was awesome for us, but we've got a heap of (other) leaders of the club that are willing to step forward. It's going to be a tough gap to fill but we've got plenty of leaders, plenty of talent that will make it easy to fill that gap straightaway.”

Sachi Syme on whether she sees herself as a leader, despite still being 19:

“I have really worked hard in the offseason. It's my third season at the club now so I'm getting to be older, or at least feeling a bit older. It's going to be massive for me to make sure I'm driving standards at the club, working really hard for the young girls so that I'm leading by example and setting the standards for them.

“I’d love to see myself in a leadership position, but whether or not that happens I'm still there to be a leader at the club. That's what I aim to do this season. I really want to be there for the young girls and for the older girls to feel really confident, saying what I need to say, and doing what I need to do to make sure we can win as many games as we can this year.”

Sachi Syme on the opening the season with a Saturday night Showdown at Alberton against the Crows on August 31:

“We're really looking forward to the Showdown. Obviously, a home game, under lights and we've been waiting for this so we're going to really crack in. I hope to see as many fans as we can out here. The girls are really looking forward to it. Obviously, we love the fans, so it'll be nice to see heaps and heaps of people down for a home game for us.”

Sachi Syme on the AFLW expanding to include an extra game by including mid-week games between weeks four to seven:

“I think just having any extra games is going to be awesome for us. Obviously, we want to play as many games as we can. And if that means playing on a Thursday, well then that's that. It will be a great challenge for us and yeah, we're really looking forward to it.”