OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list is completely subjective, the opinion is that of the individual author.

#4 Georgia Patrikios (St Kilda)

DOB: 30/03/2001
Height: 170cm
Position: Midfielder
Games: 25

Entering her fourth season where she has been able to play, Georgia Patrikios is tipped to add more silverware to her cabinet. The 22-year-old won back-to-back best and fairest awards in her first two seasons, before having to sit out Season 6 due to the AFL’s vaccination policy. She returned in Season 7, where though she was not quite at her best showed promising signs for what is to come.

Still a developing talent, Season 7 was like a first season again for Patrikios, averaging around 16 disposals and laying 4.5 tackles per game, and though many of her numbers were down on previous years, she was able to gain some continuity across all 10 games. Now with a longer off-season behind her, the Season 5 All-Australian is tipped to get back to her best and really help drive St Kilda up the ladder.

The former Calder Cannons junior collected plenty in her first two seasons, and committed to the club through expansion periods, with 25 games to her name. Aiming to add least 10 more in Season 8, Patrikios now has plenty of support around her with the likes of Jaimee Lambert and Steph Chiocci joining Tyanna Smith, Hannah Stuart and Rosie Dillion all in the midfield group.

SEASON 7 KEY STATS:

Games: 10
Goals: 2
Disposals: 16.4
Disposal Efficiency: 57.3
Marks: 1.4
Metres Gained: 281.7
Tackles: 4.5
Clearances: 3.2
Inside 50s: 3.4
Rebound 50s: 1.4
Intercepts: 3.2
Score Involvements: 1.8
Time of Ground %: 72.3

Patrikios picked up double-digit disposals in each of her 10 Season 7 matches, and though her usual silky efficiency was rusty, she got her hands on the ball and provided the pressure around the contest. Laying four or more tackles in seven of the 10 matches, Patrikios came back into the side and was able to influence on both ends, while recording a team-high 32 clearances.

She spent more time on the outside as the season went on, with her two final games recording season-high metres gained of 346 and 442 metres. Though her clearance numbers were low in the final fortnight, she is a player who is best utilised as a second possession winner going forward because she makes good decisions with ball-in-hand and can hit targets over multiple distances.

Her highest disposal tally in Season 7 was her 20-touch effort against Geelong, where she also picked up seven clearances. Spending at least 66 per cent of time on ground, she was still managed through the season – particularly later on – but with the benefit of an extended off-season, like all players will come back raring to go.

LOOKING AHEAD

Expect Patrikios to enjoy having extra support in the midfield and be able to flourish in a balanced role between the inside and outside. She is more than capable of hitting the scoreboard too, and she showed that late in the season, kicking two goals in her last three weeks. Already an All-Australian and two-time best and fairest winner, it is no surprise Patrikios is at the pointy end of this list.