Maitland Saints to field their strongest team yet in 2022

But Spriggs conceded it is increasingly difficult to remain competitive with teams dropping out and the Newcastle and Central Coast clubs able to top up their lists.

"We feel like we are in good shape going into the start of the season, although it's been a setback a week out for us with Gosford dropping out of first grade," Spriggs said.

"When we first stepped up to first grade five years ago there were 11 teams now there is only seven with Gosford dropping out.

In the news

"We've lost Lake Macquarie, Wyong, Nelson Bay and right at the last this year Gosford have dropped out.

"We have to improve every year just to stay competitive with the teams up the top as the competition keeps on getting smaller, but we are doing it."

The Maitland Saints men will have a delayed start to the season in the 2022 AFL Hunter Central Coast competition after Gosford dropped out on the eve of the season.

The Saints women kick off the season on Saturday, April 2, along with the men's reserve grade team with away games against Wyong Lakes and Gosford respectively.

All three teams will be at home in round two with the men's and women's Black Diamond Cup teams hosting Hunter rivals Singleton and reserves playing The Entrance Bateau Bay.

The Saints 2022 team is largely a homegrown team with two-thirds of the squad coming up through the club's junior ranks.

"On every line at least two out of the three players are club juniors and then we've got a good mix of players we have recruited from other clubs or who have moved to us from other states," he said.

"We feel like our best 22 this year should be the best 22 we've put on the park, we've got a good bit of depth as well but hopefully we won't have to call on it too much with COVID.

"Our reserves should be a bit stronger this year as well, we've had good numbers on the track."

The key recruits include Jarrod Steinert who came to the club late last season.

Spriggs said the former Sydney Swans Academy player was playing on one leg last year, but was fully fit now and he expected him to make a big impact in 2022.

"He moved up here as a carpenter and lives out at Pokolbin, he will be very handy for us, solid in the midfield," Spriggs said.

"Last year we picked up a couple of players from Muswellbrook who were looking to play at a higher level. James Adams on the wing, Jordy Solly on halfback have fitted in real well and have become real leaders for us."

After losing junior players to top grade teams in Newcastle in their formative year, the Saints have been able to hold onto their juniors from the past six to eight years.

"We've got (Hunter representatives) Pat McMahon and Riley Newstead who are pretty much in the peak of their careers," Spriggs said.

"It filters right down each year, Sammy Jordon, Matty Guy and Wally Pankhurst came through two years after that initial group.

"Coming through now are Zack Stewart, Jarrod Inglis and Xavier Russell."

All three are under-17s and Stewart and Inglis are both with the Sydney Swans Academy.

"The Swans are keen for Zack and Jarrod to play first grade at this stage of their development rather than go down and play under-17s with the Swans," Spriggs said.

"They will probably have four games with the Swans and the rest with us.

"It's really exciting to see their development. I was at Cardiff when (Sydney Swans star) Isaac Heeney was coming through and the Swans took a similar path with him."

The Saints are still looking for players of any experience for their men's and women's teams. The club trains on Tuesday and Thursday at Max McMahon Oval in Rutherford.