Next week, Moorabbin will be packed for the second time in a matter of 11 days when St Kilda host the Hawks in an AFL pre-season practice game on a Thursday evening.

The Saints are already looking at measures that will allow 10,000 people in to a ground that once accommodated 30,000-plus – and drew an unthinkable 51,000 to the first game there in 1965. Sunday's AFLW opener was full at little more than 8000.

A capacity crowd of 8000 packed into Moorabbin to watch the Saints' first AFLW game on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

St Kilda's return to their sacred tribal ground – the place that forged their post-1960s supporter base and gave birth to a unique bayside culture – has already been beneficial to their oft-parlous bottom line: membership is up by 6500 on this time last year, and while much of that is about landing players (Brad Hill in particular) and a change of coach, the return of the prodigal home ground is also a factor.

If the overflowing terraces were a victory for AFLW and the Saints, they also underscored – as next week's game will – what the club lost as a result of ground rationalisation and the forced moves from first Moorabbin and then Waverley Park.