THERE is something black and white about the way Glenelg winger Violet Patterson plays, and it is not just her affiliation to Collingwood. Her father Stephen played 96 games and kicked 88 goals for the Magpies between 1995-2000, with the top-age Patterson an eligible father-daughter prospect.

Though Patterson might not be the biggest or strongest player running around, pound for pound would be one of the toughest in the competition. She is fierce, runs both ways, has nice athletic traits and is symbolic of the way football is played in the modern era.

Earning the Round 3 Breakthrough Player Award, Patterson was the subject of our SANFL Women’s Player Focus for the round. She amassed 25 disposals and laid eight tackles in the Bays’ win over reigning premiers Central District to be among the best in the yellow and black.

Glenelg Women's, South Australia GirlsMidfielder, Wing

Violet Patterson

Height: 170cm

Weight: -

DOB: 09-01-2006

PLAYER FOCUS

2024 SANFL Women’s Round 3
Glenelg 11.9 (75) defeated Central District 4.9 (33)

#6 Violet Patterson (Glenelg)
Stats: 25 disposals (17 kicks, 8 handballs), 1 mark (1 contested), 8 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

FIRST QUARTER

Patterson started her day about five minutes in when she won a free for being tripped by Lauren Breguet. Working hard up and down the wing, the top-ager set up an early goal a minute later. She recovered after dropping a mark to handball clearly which released teammates to get on the end of a major.

After a clean pick up in midfield, she was tackled high and produced a lovely lace-out kick to Jasmin Stewart. But as a winger, Patterson does not just win ball between the arcs. She worked back into defence where she competed hard to spoil in a marking contest, then within a play not much later, marked inside 50. She delivered a low bullet to Alex Pearce who put it to the goalsquare and Sam Franson soccered home a goal.

Later in the quarter, Patterson had a short kick into the middle which just fell ahead of teammates, but backed up to the next contest where she won it again but was tackled. She still managed to get the ball away cleanly. At the next major moment, Patterson tried to snap it forward but was dragged down, though she did finish with a good gather and clean handball close to goal, recording eight disposals in the first term.

SECOND QUARTER

Patterson’s first term was the best of the lot, but she was still busy in the second quarter. Starting on a wing, Patterson got forward to release a handball on the flank and won another couple of handballs between the arcs over the next five minutes to go into double-digit disposals.

A few minutes later, Patterson kicked perfectly inside 50 towards fellow State Academy member Eloise Mackereth who converted a goal, yet another goal assist for the top-age talent. Her second efforts were on display again midway through the term where she had a couple of repeat efforts on the wing, could not cleanly get a handball away and then did on the second effort.

Wrapping up the first half, Patterson received the handball from Stewart while being on the move and was able to deliver a nice kick to Brooke Tonon on the wing.

THIRD QUARTER

It was a quieter third term from Patterson, though it did not mean she worked any less. She continued to run up and down the ground, but she held a strong line. With Central District dominating forward half possession for that 20-minute period, Patterson only added a few more touches to her name.

She was outmarked by experienced defender Georgia Madigan eight minutes into the quarter, but that should not be a shock as the Central District mature-ager is one of the best one-on-one backs in the competition. She had a nice kick inside 50 in the dying stages of the term just unluckily just came off hands.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth term saw Patterson feature early with a nice kick out of defence, before running hard to receive the handball off that mark at half-back. She continued to run and nailed a pinpoint pass to Tonon in arguably her best play of the day.

Patterson had another pinpoint pass shortly after following her kick in from a last touch out of bounds free kick for the Bays. She would remain active across the term, getting her hands either on the ball, or locking it in, as she capped off the game with 25 disposals, a new career-high at the level.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Violet Patterson easily smashed her previous career-best 19 disposals from Round 1, while her next best was 17 way back in her debut season of 2022. The now top-ager has lifted her efficiency by foot to be running at an elite 87 per cent efficiency this season, while still maintaining her high level of defensive pressure.

At this stage, Patterson is a possible top 30 prospect, landing somewhere in the second round on quality, but her upside is undeniable. Previously her composure was a question mark, and while still developing, her athletic gifts, along with her two-way running and ability to impact offensively and defensively, ticks a lot of boxes for AFLW clubs, including Collingwood.