AS PART of a new countdown series leading into the 2023 South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s season, we will name 23 players to watch who are under 23. We are only looking at those players who were born January 1, 2000 or later, have played a SANFL Women’s senior match and have never been on an AFL Women’s list. Today we are up to number #14 and it is Glenelg winger Violet Patterson.

#14 Violet Patterson (Glenelg)

DOB: 09/01/2006
Height: 170cm
Position: Winger
Local club: Plympton

After Lily Whitcombe became the first top-ager to appear in our countdown for this year, Glenelg bottom-ager Violet Patterson cracked in as the first non draft-eligible player to feature. The hard running winger is the definition of tough. Though she plays on the outside, the moment she gets a sniff of blood, it is danger for the opposition. Standing at a good height of 170cm, Patterson hits the contest hard and thrives in close, then uses her explosive speed on the outside to do a lot of damage.

Patterson is not eligible to be selected until next year in the 2024 AFL Women’s Draft, one of a number of bright prospects who have high potential. Though her natural talent will have people talking about her alone, she has the extra uniqueness of being a potential father-daughter selection. Though not the first AFL Women’s father-daughter selection, she could end up the first father-daughter selection taken in another state pool.

The teenager is the daughter of former Magpie Stephen, who played 96 games and booted 88 goals for the Magpies between the years of 1995-2000. Though under current father-son rules the father must have played 100 games, under the father-daughter rules, just the one is required. Of course Patterson is based in South Australia, playing for local club Plympton when not in Glenelg colours.

In terms of her traits, Patterson is a natural talent who just has to adjust her composure with ball-in-hand when streaming down the field. Her eye-catching ability allows her to win the ball and take off, blowing away any opponent, then breaking the lines and kicking downfield. Though she can tend to rush with that disposal, when she has time and space and can steady, she can do a lot of damage. Her contest work when required is just as strong, though her athletic gifts means she can have more of an impact outside the contest, often off a wing.

>> 2022 PLAYER FOCUS | SANFLW – Violet Patterson (Glenelg)

In 2023, Patterson still has another year to go before she is draft-eligible, but will no doubt be a feature in the South Australian state team. She was selected in the final squad for the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships as an Under 16s player, but like fellow bottom-ager Chloe Charity, missed out on getting a call-up given the strength of the squad. Her class, speed and toughness make her a well-balanced player and expect her to only get better with more development.