ST KILDA young gun Jade McLay remembers going numb, as her surgeon delivered the news that her 2025 campaign could be over. 

McLay, who this week earned the round five Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination following an impressive four-goal performance against Richmond, had gone down injured at the start of the second half of one of the National Academy games at RSEA Park last year, clutching at her shoulder having landed in an awkward position. 

And what was initially believed to be a broken collarbone turned out to be much more complicated than that. McLay had also torn her labrum, chipped her scapula and in her words "done a pretty good job of it".

"I didn't really believe it, I literally just went numb and didn't remember anything the surgeon said," McLay told AFL.com.au this week. 

"When I got told it was kind of like, 'You can play through it, but you'd be playing at 80 per cent' and if it popped out again, I would've needed a graft from my hip. Or I go in for surgery, miss the year and hope I get drafted," she said.

McLay wasn't expecting the news and it hit her pretty hard. 

McLay, who was drafted out of the Calder Cannons with pick No.26, has already made a name for herself in just three games this year. 

A breakout performance against the Tigers last week, where she booted four goals including three in quick succession, highlighted just what she is capable of at the top level. 

She's as tough as nails, physical, and has a great footy IQ. 

McLay can still recall the incident that day at RSEA Park and remembers pleading with medical staff to go back onto the ground, such is her nature.

"As soon as it happened, I was in so much pain, it stung really badly. I still don't know if it actually popped out or not, because it went straight back in," she said.

"We were assessing it in the changerooms and I thought I was fine and wanted to go back on, but the medical staff thought probably not."

So McLay had a decision to make. Keep her season alive but play with a busted shoulder, or go in for surgery and leave her draft hopes hanging in the balance.

Alongside dad Steve, McLay decided that she had to do what was best for her body long term. In fact, playing injured might have hurt her draft chances, anyway.

So having booked in for surgery, McLay turned her attention to finding other ways to improve and get the most out of her year. 

As captain of the Cannons, McLay wanted to ensure she stayed involved so helped coach Nic Tenabel from the sidelines. 

While McLay's injury was a massive blow to the Cannons' on-field hopes, she was just as helpful off the field where she was able to continue to share her knowledge of the game with her peers.

"It was really good to help out with my footy brain. Whether it was taking stats, helping the midfielders or the forwards at training, or even before training, doing some midfield stoppages with the girls," she said.

"I just wanted to help out where I could and stay involved and connected to the group."

Draft night is an anxious evening for any draft hopeful and McLay recalls feeling relieved when she heard her name called out by the Saints at pick 26.

"I was just so grateful that it was over. It was really good to know that all the hard work and rehab that I had done was worth it. I was able to crack in, get the shoulder right and hopefully have a good year and get to play footy again," she said.

So, with her body good to go, McLay went to work to give herself the best chance of making an impact at AFLW level as early as possible. 

She did plenty of extras with new teammate Alana Gee over the break and has formed close relationships with the likes of Paige Trudgeon and Bianca Jakobsson since arriving at Moorabbin. 

Jakobsson is "so selfless", while McLay has loved the opportunity to work with Trudgeon given "she's got a wealth of knowledge".

"I just want to pick her brains so much," McLay said.

Now well and truly over her injury troubles from last year, McLay is fully focused on making an impact at the top level. And it hasn't taken her long to do so.

"I think my strength and physicality are probably my biggest strength. I did a lot of work over the pre-season understanding how strong I am and how to use my body to my advantage, which I think helped me out on the weekend," she said.

"I've also loved learning from 'T' (Tyanna Smith) and what they do in the midfield. Hopefully I'll get some more midfield minutes, but I also love playing forward and chopping out in the midfield."

"I think you got a glimpse of what she's capable of. We're really bullish and excited about what she's going to be for our football club," coach Nick Dal Santo told reporters post-match.

McLay has played primarily as a forward this year, where her aerial ability has been a big highlight, but she's also strong around the contest and could eventually project into a midfielder in the long-term.

But right now, she's just happy to play wherever the team needs her.

"I'd love to say that I'd be playing a lot of midfield and would love that, but I really like the role I'm playing at the moment. I'll play wherever they need me or wherever the game's going," McLay said.

McLay is excited by the prospect of working alongside some of St Kilda's young talent, with a group that is hungry to get better.

"We're a pretty young list; we've had seven new players this year. It's hard for us, but also the rest of the playing team because there's so much new personnel. We're still understanding where each and every one of us sits… hopefully with a few more games under the belt we can keep continuing to learn from each other and how everyone plays," she said.

"We're just adapting and growing so much... I'm just so happy that I can play football again. I just want to make it fun and enjoy it. If I play every week, that's a bonus."

McLay and the Saints will be out to secure their first win of 2026 when they host West Coast at RSEA Park on Sunday at 3.05pm AEST.