St Kilda's rising star Tyanna Smith is set to miss the entirety of the 2022 AFLW season following scans confirming that the 19-year-old had torn her ACL in a training incident.

In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, the Saints stated that Smith had ruptured the ligament in her left knee whilst performing drills on Saturday morning.

“This is a very disappointing situation and we’re all really feeling for Tyanna,” the club's Head of AFLW Tessie McManus told saints.com.au.

“Tyanna had been having a really promising pre-season, looking to build upon her great debut earlier this year.

“We have no doubt she will attack her rehab with the same positivity and dedication she brings to our group and be back as soon as she can.”

The Dandenong Stingrays product was selected by the Linton Street side with the 6th pick of the 2020 AFLW Draft before thatching together an exciting debut campaign that saw her slot three goals from nine appearances.

Such was Smith's impact through the centre of the ground and within forward 50, the Victorian finished as the runner up in the club's 2021 best and fairest count.

The livewire's cruel injury now leaves first-year head coach Nick Dal Santo light on for midfield options ahead of the season's commencement in January.

The champion Saint was already facing an uphill battle in this regard following the decision of dual best and fairest winner Georgia Patrikios  to take time away from the game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 13: Georgia Patrikios of the Saints is tackled by Madison Prespakis of the Blues during the 2021 AFLW Round 03 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Carlton Blues at RSEA Park on February 13, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Smith and the Saints finished their 2021 season with an 11th placed finish in the 14-team competition, having won three of their nine contests.

As the fixture for the league's sixth season is yet to be released, it is not yet known who St Kilda will face to start their third campaign.

However, the expansion club is unlikely to host any of their early-season home games at Moorabbin due to surfacing upgrades currently being undertaken.

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Should Dal Santo's side be forced away from their spiritual home deck, it remains likely that hosting duties will fall on either Frankston City Oval or Trevor Barker Beach Oval in Sandringham across the Summer months.