After being overlooked in the 2021 AFLW Draft, Pia Staltari returned to the Sandringham Dragons in 2022, and after a year with more positional consistency, she once again finds herself on the draft radar.

Staltari was thrown about into all thirds of the ground last year, finding it difficult to make one position her own as she sometimes switched positions on a quarter-by-quarter basis. However, in her over-age campaign she was given a full run as a permanent forward and shone, bagging eight goals for the season and finishing second in Sandringham's goal kicking tally.

Staltari adapted her strengths to the role well, with her sound decision making and clean skills holding her in good stead to be the player kicking the goals, or the one handing them off. Whilst not getting as many opportunities through the midfield this year, Staltari still managed to top her disposal numbers from last season as she pushed up the ground during games to be an option sending it inside 50.

When stationed deeper, Staltari’s application of pressure was immense, doing well to force mistakes from opponents and earn her side goal scoring opportunities. Despite Staltari’s stability in position for the season, given what she has shown in previous years it is fair to say she’s still a versatile prospect when given the opportunity.

Staltari didn’t earn Vic Metro representative honours in 2022 like she had done last year, but turned out for the Southern Saints at VFLW level five times, averaging 11 disposals a game, with seven of those being kicks. Staltari will be looking to improve her contested game at the next level, as she can sometimes be out-bodied when in a one-on-one situation, and often fade in and out of games.