The more time passed, the less likely it appeared that Clara Fitzpatrick would ever make it back to the AFLW.
VISA issues exacerbated by COVID-19 prevented the Irish native from returning in 2021, before a ruptured ACL while playing Gaelic Football saw her delisted by the end of the year. The desire to re-join the red, white and black never dwindled however, with the key defender signing on as a delisted free agent ahead of Season 7 to give St Kilda’s backline vital stability, height and experience. Fitzpatrick first picked up the Sherrin after travelling to Melbourne on her vacation-turned-temporary-residency in 2016, winning St Kilda’s Coaches’ Award in her inaugural season at the elite level.
