Renee Saulitis (born 12 August 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for St Kilda in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She was recruited by St Kilda with the 34th pick of the 2020 AFL Women's draft.[1][2]

Renee Saulitis
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-08-14) 14 August 2002 (age 22)
Original team(s) Greater Western Victoria Rebels (NAB League Girls)
Draft No.34, 2020 AFL Women's draft
Debut 29 January 2021, St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs, at Moorabbin Oval
Height 163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club St Kilda
Number 13
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021– St Kilda 9 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the S7 (2022) season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Junior football

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Saulitis was born in Warrnambool.[3] Saulitis played for many clubs over her junior career, including the Ararat Storm in the Deakin University Female Football League, the Lake Wendouree Football Club in the Ballarat Football League, and her school's team, Ballarat Grammar, where she boarded.[4][5] She was selected in the AFL Women's Academy in November 2019,[6] after playing for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the NAB League Girls for the 2019 season, where she averaged 6.8 disposals and 0.4 goals.[7] She only played 2 games for the Rebels in the 2020 season due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in those two games she performed well, averaging 12 disposals and a goal a game.[7] She also played for Vic Country in the 2019 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships.[8]

AFLW career

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Saulitis debuted in the opening round of the 2021 AFL Women's season, where the Saints clutched a 9-point win over the Western Bulldogs.[9] On debut, Saulitis collected 7 disposals and 2 marks.[10] After notching just 3 disposals the following round against North Melbourne,[11] she was omitted from the side.[12] She returned to the team in round 5,[13] but was again omitted the following round.[14]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season.[15]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 St Kilda 13 3 0 0 10 6 16 4 1 0.0 0.1 3.3 2.0 5.3 1.3 0.3 0
Career 3 0 0 10 6 16 4 1 0.0 0.0 3.3 2.0 5.3 1.3 0.3 0

References

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  1. ^ "RECAP: Who went where? Every pick as it happened in historic draft". womens.afl. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ Walsh, Liz; Lauren, Wood (9 October 2020). "AFLW Draft: See every pick and see how Sarah Perkins rebooted her career". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. ^ Smith, Camille (11 November 2020). "Warrnambool athlete caps off 2020 with AFLW spot". weeklytimesnow.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. ^ Williams, Peter (27 September 2020). "Saulitis rides wave of success on the back of hard work and determination". Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  5. ^ Nice, Chris (9 December 2020). "Warrnambool, Ballarat, St Kilda: Renee Saulitis' new home". saints.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  6. ^ Hardeman, Sean (14 November 2019). "South Warrnambool export Renee Saulitis named in AFL Women's Academy". standard.net.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Renee Saulitis". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  8. ^ Williams, Peter (23 July 2020). "AFLW U18s Ones to Watch: Renee Saulitis (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  9. ^ Nice, Chris (28 January 2021). "Deliveroo Team Selection: Six to debut in Saints' season opener". saints.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  10. ^ "St. Kilda WFC vs Western Bulldogs WFC - Player Stats". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. ^ "North Melbourne WFC vs St. Kilda WFC - Player Stats". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  12. ^ Nice, Chris (12 February 2021). "Deliveroo Team Selection: Saints name debutant No. 8, Shannon gets her shot". saints.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  13. ^ Nice, Chris (27 February 2021). "Deliveroo Team Selection: Three return for AFLW Indigenous Round". saints.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  14. ^ Nice, Chris (5 March 2021). "Deliveroo Team Selection: Saints gain pace and grunt with two big ins". Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Renee Saulitis - Player Stats By Season". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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