By Tara Murray
Calder Cannons’ Georgia Patrikios is trying not to focus too much on next week’s AFLW draft.
A talented junior footballer, Patrikios is expected to be among the top picks in the draft.
Speaking at the recent draft combine, Patrikios said her first focus was performing well at the combine, then, it’s a waiting game.
“It’s really nerve-wracking, everything is happening at once,” she said.
“It’s been really good, I can’t complain. I try not to think about the draft too much.
“Whatever happens, happens. I don’t have control over things now.”
Patrikios, 18, whose home club was the Sunbury Lions this year, said she thought she had done everything that she could this season to show her talent.
The year started with a grand final appearance with the Calder Cannons. She also finished second in the club’s best and fairest.
“I think I started a bit quiet, coming into the season I had an ankle injury that I wasn’t 100 per cent healed from,” she said.
“So I came in a bit behind the eight ball. From there, I worked into the season pretty well.
“We made finals and I played well in those finals.
“We just fell short at the end … That was a crazy experience, not just for myself, but the whole team. I’m very lucky to be there.”
Patrikios went straight from the Cannons to Vic Metro ahead of the National Championships.
The midfielder was one of the standouts for Metro and was shocked when she was named the championships’ most valuable player.
“I was actually really surprised,” she said.
“I was looking around to see who I thought it was going to be and then I heard my name. It caught me off guard a little bit, but I’m honoured to get the medal.
“I think I started really well on the Monday and played a strong game and slowly dropped off as my body got more fatigued. I tried my best, I think I didn’t do too bad.”
It’s the third straight year that a Calder Cannons player has won the championship award, with now-Carlton star Madison Prespakis dominating the past couple of years.
Patrikios said Prespakis, who is a good friend, had given her plenty of advice throughout the year.
Capping off the year, Patrikios made her VFLW debut with Essendon.
“That was really fun, it was really good playing with girls that have been through the AFLW system. They taught me a few things going through that program.”
Patrikios, who sees her speed, agility and composure as her strengths, said her focus between now and the draft on October 22 was to keep training hard.
