Ashleigh Saint is looking forward to Saturday night’s AFLW Showdown for a couple of reasons.

While the game at Alberton Oval will see her Port Adelaide side open its 2024 season, Saint will also be playing her 50th AFLW game against the team with which she played 36 games and won the 2022 premiership.

Already an All-Australian and AFLW leading goal kicker, Saint is entering her second season at Port Adelaide as the newest member of the club’s leadership group.

Port Adelaide’s side will wear the club’s iconic prison bar guernsey against the Crows on Saturday night in a landmark moment.

Speaking at Alberton on Thursday, Saint spoke of her excitement to get into the season, her pride at reaching her 50^th game, and her eagerness to see what some of the new talented young players will bring to the team.

Ash Saint on being excited for Saturday night’s Showdown season opener:

“I think just finally getting to play. We've had a really long off-season and pre-season. It's been around nine months so the girls are really excited to get out on the track, (in a) home game at Alberton at 7:15pm. Nothing can get better than that and a Showdown, so yeah, really excited.”

Ash Saint on the expectation of the group this year:

“We've gone away and worked really hard in the off season. A lot of the young girls have brought in so much this year, we've got a new head of strength and conditioning, so we've really worked on our fitness, and I think that contest to contest running, we've really worked hard at. Hopefully you see a bit of that this season.

“We focus on what we've got in front of us. So we've got round one where we’re obviously looking for a win. We want success for the team this year. We've worked really hard for it. It's like any year. I think you want to be one of those teams in November, deep into November, but I think it's just the process on how we're going to beat each team. (But we are) looking to get, definitely, a lot more wins on the board this year.”

Ash Saint on the exciting first-year players like Shineah Goody:

“We've got really good young guns in our team, the likes of Shineah Goody and Molly Brooksby, and I won't name them all, but honestly, they've all fitted in really well, and they've all worked really hard, so hopefully you'll see them all this season.

“Shineah is a really mature player. She goes and does craft every day, every week. She's always here doing recovery. She's at that elite level already, which is amazing to see, and she's put in the hard work so you will see it out on the field when she gets to play this year.”

Ash Saint on being part of the leadership group in 2024:

“(At 25), I’m classed as a middle-aged player now, so some of the young ones think I'm old, but I'll take middle aged. I think as a leader, I've always tried to lead by example. I'm probably not the loudest person on the field or as a speaker in that sense but yeah, I try to lead by example and take girls with me.”

Ash Saint on reaching her milestone 50^th AFLW game:

“I'm really excited. I'm proud of myself. I think as a young girl, I never had anyone to look up to in the AFLW, there was no AFLW. So I always looked up to the men's competition and wished one day that I could play football, but obviously it wasn't able to happen back then. Just to see that I get to play my 50th this weekend, I'm just really proud of myself.”

Ash Saint on whether she expects any spice in the Showdown:

“I think we just generally have a good rivalry with the Crows. I think it's a little bit of fun. The fans get into it, probably a little bit more than us players, but yeah, I think it's a little bit of fun on the field. Nothing comes (of it) off (the field) after the game or anything. But I know it will definitely be a hot contest.”