Port Adelaide mid-forward Ashleigh Saint says the playing group’s belief is strong as they head into the second week of finals, following a seventh-straight win. 

Saint, who took on a leadership role this year at the club, won a premiership with Adelaide before moving to the Power in 2022, and has used her experience to support her young teammates. 

The 26-year-old spoke to the Adelaide media on Tuesday about Sunday’s win over Richmond, the confidence of the group, and how they are preparing for Hawthorn this weekend.  

Saint on Sunday’s win over Richmond 
“Yeah, honestly, it was really exciting for the group. I think we're really proud of ourselves. We've been working for that moment for a long time. To get the win against a really good side in Richmond, yeah, really proud of the group. It was a very exciting win on the weekend.” 

Saint on the belief despite being a young team 
“I think the belief is there, and I think we don't use being a young team as an excuse. I think it really drives us. And I think a lot of (external) people use that, oh, we're a young side, we're not mature enough. But I think that drives the girls a little bit more as well. And just to see them in the off-season, how mature they've become, and the running that they did and wanting to get better, I think the game and the competition and our team’s changed a lot. So I think the belief is there. The seven on the trot obviously gives us a lot of belief as well, and that little bit more confidence going into the next game.” 

Saint on the forward line working together 
“I think that's a good thing about our forward line. You want to shut down one of us, there's three others that will kick goals as well. So yeah, we've got three talls up there with Teaks (Julia Teakle), myself and Gemma (Houghton), and then obviously, Wendy (Caitlin Wendland) and Juzzy (Mules-Robinson) as well, and they're on the scoreboard quite a bit this season as well. So we have a really good forward line. We gel really well together, and I just love playing with them.” 

Saint on the confidence of the group after seven wins in a row 
“Seven in a row is really, really good for our group, and I think it gives us a lot of confidence. But we also just narrow our focus for each week who we're versing, so obviously Hawks this week, going through the process and how we can play against them. And, yeah, what do they like to do on the field as well.” 

Saint on her advice for teammates in finals  
“I think just being calm, I think not looking too far ahead. I think some girls can look too far ahead, and it can be very overwhelming. Just understanding what we've got for the weekend and what the job that we need to do and get done. Just narrowing the focus and just staying calm with the group and telling them just to enjoy themselves. Most of the girls haven’t played finals before, and it’s just really exciting. 

“I think (giving advice) comes naturally to me, understanding that I am more on the mature side now as our group is very young, so just having to give them the advice and understanding that it's a finals game, and it might sound big, but just honestly playing your game and your role for the team is going to help us get the job done on the weekend.” 

Saint on being a leader throughout finals 
“Yeah, I think we went into it (Sunday’s game) really confident. Understanding my role within this team, and I am a leader (so) just bringing young girls along and just calming their nerves. But I think it calms me as well. I get nervous before games as well, and it's just natural when you really care about a group and a side and wanting to win. I think it's good nerves. But just understanding when you're out in the field, just understanding your role.” 

Saint on the feeling of winning a premiership with Adelaide 
“I dreamt about that blue ribbon around that gold medal. And I know, obviously playing in a grand final, it was huge, and I was nervous. I probably leant on the other girls in that team as well to help me come along and understand just to play my role for the team. But I think not looking too far ahead, we don't talk about grand finals or anything like that and with this group, it's been really good, and they've been really mature about it. I think we're just going through the process and understanding how we can get better each week to beat these teams.” 

Saint on the potential of this team 
“I think these girls have a lot of talent, and the girls coming in as well. The likes of Shineah Goody and Molly Brooksby, the young ones coming in, and this is their first season. And you look at them and you think they've been playing for years. They've had AFL throughout their childhood, so they haven't had to stop playing. And I think you can tell the difference within those girls and just their natural ability to play footy, and understanding reading the plays, it's amazing to see. And I think the comp is going so far and I can't wait to see this group go that step further.” 

Saint on striving for success 
“I think we're just really enjoying our footy here. The Crows had obviously a lot of success before I (went to that) club. So understanding that that premiership was always there, every season, you're driving for that premiership. We're driving for the premiership as well, every club is, that's why you play footy. But honestly, with a young group, and how mature we've gotten, just focusing each week by week, and what opponent we've got. We've got Hawks this weekend, and they're a really good side, so just understanding how we can play better, and we played a really good brand of footy on the weekend, and that's how you want to play every week. But what can we do to now beat the Hawks.” 

Saint on wearing her headphones during warm-up 
“You probably don't want to know my soundtrack, it goes from sad to pop to country. Yeah, I don't know. I just like to be in my own space and block out some of the noise and get my breathing right before the game, understanding the atmosphere that's there, about to play a big game of footy. So there's a few of us that like to have our own routines on game day. A few like to dance in the change rooms, and then there's a few of us in the hallway getting away from it. So just, yeah, understanding your preparation. And I think that's what we've worked through this season as well, with the younger group, understanding what works for you on game day and how you prepare for your game.” 

Saint on external pressure 
“No, I don't think (I feel external pressure). I don't know, it's a weird feeling, you feel each week like you've got a massive competition, another team to you have to verse against. And I don't think we've gone into any game thinking we're definitely going to win. You can't with this competition. The top eight changed that many times this year. So I'm so happy with how the girls have handled it, how we're winning and not thinking, yep, we're on top now we're just going to leave it that. It's how we can get better each week and yeah, just narrowing that focus down to who we're versing this weekend.”