ONE of only two father-daughter prospects in this year’s AFL Women’s Draft, Violet Patterson has gone about building a nice CV leading up to next Monday’s night of nights. Tied to Collingwood thanks to her father Stephen’s 96 games in the black and white, Patterson looms as a high upside prospect with a nice balance of footballing and athletic traits.

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Patterson has carved out a strong career at SANFL Women’s level for Glenelg, where since she debuted in her double bottom-age year, has mixed it with far bigger opponents. Her toughness at the contest stands out as a strength, as well as her competitive nature. Though others might have a clear weight advantage on the lighter build South Australian, Patterson explains what helps her play with no fear.

“I think from my junior career, out there I wasn’t small, so I think my competitive nature helped me to be tough in and under the contest, and then working my way into the SANFL, it’s been a bit of a reality check to be like ‘oh these girls have got bigger bodies’ but my tackling pressure, it’s something that I love applying and I think that keeps me in the game, so being there and applying that pressure just allows me to feel involved so I do love to make myself known a bit,” Patterson told Rookie Me Central.

Coming into 2024, Patterson was ranked eighth in our SANFLW Players to Watch for the year ahead and being nominated by Collingwood means the Glenelg teenager will achieve her dream at the next level, with the Magpies providing the black and white match any bid that comes in for her.

Speaking on her father’s influence, Patterson said it was a mix of both her mum and dad, as well as her older brother that drove her to be the best player she could be.

“I think we’re a very naturally competitive family, we love to compete for things and win obviously, so growing up with my dad and then my older brother who did play football as well, I was always surrounded with the sport, and we would go out to all the games and everything,” she said. “I think just the transfer of that competitive nature from all sports I’ve ever played, just came from both dad and mum, but more so dad to help me get into the sport and everything, so it was great.”

At the end of last year, Patterson said looking ahead to the current day was something in “the back of my mind” but she understood the hard work required to get there.

“In myself know I have so much progression in my game, so I’m really trying to focus on getting myself better as a player initially before, like obviously I’ve got that at the back of my mind always which is a very exciting prospect, but I know I have to put in the work now to get myself to that position,” Patterson said.

“In terms of moving interstate or going to that club, it’s a very exciting thing that is there, is a possibility, but I think just me having to put in the work now to make that even in the realms of probability would be my focus.”

If selected by the Magpies, Patterson would make history as the first father-daughter to be selected by her AFLW tied-club in a different state. However for the black and white faithful, it will be relieving to hear she has no qualms about relocating to chase her dream.

“That hasn’t really been an issue, like I’m happy to move, I’ve always wanted to move out of Adelaide, I reckon eventually,” Patterson said. “So that is very exciting, but I don’t think I’d be too fussed to be honest. “A career in AFL wherever that may be is my dream, so I’d follow that anywhere.”

Collingwood was involved in a massive six-club switch last week that saw the Magpies exchanging two pics to gain three. The club traded out picks 19 and 37 in exchange for picks 22, 28 and 45. While on the surface the Magpies also gain an additional top 30 player for only moving back three and eight positions respectively, the crucial element to the trade is centred around Patterson.

Unlike in the men’s draft where when an opposition team bids on a club-tied player and the club comes up with a raft of picks to match the bid from a points value, it is a little different in the women’s. Essentially all Collingwood has to do is match within 18 selections of the bid to secure the player.

By doing the trade, it likely eliminates the possibility of using the Magpies’ third selection on Patterson, instead matching with 45 given a bid could well come in the 30s. If not, Collingwood will just select Patterson with its last pick in the draft, a win-win for the black and white army.

So what can Collingwood fans expect from Patterson?

“I think some strengths in my game is my speed and my tackling pressure,” she said. “I do like to apply that pressure and make my presence known on the field. “But I think the main one is definitely my team-first mentality. “I really value being a team player and I love to be involved in that way, because my position on the wing is a very team-oriented position, so I’ve always had that as an aspect.

“I’m always looking to improve on my basics. Always trying to progress those and everything, really wanting to knuckle down on my goalkicking to help my game overall.”

Patterson looks up to Sarah Rowe as an elite level rolemodel, and looms likely to join the Irish talent in the black and white.

“I think just watching her specifically, and her running movements,” Patterson said. “I know she’s a very fit and fast player and she’s very knowledgable so I like seeing her and seeing all of her movements and hopefully transferring some of that into my game.”

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