From Setback to Superstar: The Return of Georgia Patrikios - AFLW: The Numbers Don't Lie

From Setback to Superstar: The Return of Georgia Patrikios

As the AFLW prepares to celebrate its 10th season, kicking off on August 14, it’s time to start looking at the key players set to make their mark in 2025.

Over the next two months, 'The Numbers Don’t Lie' will be breaking down the data, reflecting on the pivotal moments from 2024, and preparing AFLW fans for what to expect when the first siren sounds in nine weeks’ time.

This week we’re talking all things Georgia Patrikios. The St Kilda midfielder is poised for a huge comeback after a stint on the sidelines, and her return is set to be a game-changer for the Saints.

Georgia Patrikios prepares to deliver a kick against Richmond. Photo: St Kilda FC

Patrikios first made her mark in 2020 after being taken at pick 5 in the 2019 draft. She quickly lived up to the hype with her elite ball use, maturity under pressure and ability to influence contests. In her first game in the red, white and black, Round 1 2020, Patrikios racked up a team-high 18 disposals and 5 tackles, earning herself a NAB Rising Star nomination.

Patrikios drafted by the Saints in 2019. Photo: St Kilda FC

She won the AFLPA Best First Year Player award that season and went on to take out the St Kilda Best and Fairest in both 2020 and 2021.

In just four seasons, Patrikios has already racked up a decent list of accolades.

And it’s her numbers that underscore her reputation as an impact player.

At her peak in 2021, just her second season, Patrikios was averaging 23.9 disposals per game, the second highest in the league. Her career average of 18.5 highlights her ability to find the ball consistently. She is a player who can take over a match, demonstrated by her career-best 30-disposal performance against West Coast in 2023.

In just her second season (2021), Patrikios ranked second in average disposals per game behind only Alyce Parker from the GWS Giants. Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au

When you match her against the competition’s elite, Patrikios stacks up. Players like North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner frequently lead disposal charts, and Patrikios’ 2021 form kept her up there with the league’s best, a testament to her ability to perform at a comparable level.

In just two seasons she was becoming one of the game’s brightest stars.

A comparison of Patrikios’ numbers compared to Garner's at the same time in their careers (35 games played) highlights the trajectory Georgia’s career might follow.

If you compare the averages of some key match stats after 35 games, Patrikios has very similar numbers to current North Melbourne Premiership hero and league benchmark, Jasmine Garner. Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au

Patrikios missed Season 6 in early 2022 in the midst of a challenging COVID period, but when she returned later in the year for Season 7, her form was strong once again. She led the Saints in average disposals (16.4), kicks (11.8), clearances (3.2) and metres gained (281.7), a clear sign she was returning to her best.

She took that form into Season 7 (2023), again playing all ten games. While the average disposal count still fell a little short of her 2021 peak, fans saw glimpses of the Patrikios of old. She finished the season second in average disposals at St Kilda — a touch behind Jamiee Lambert (18.5) and Olivia Vesely (15.7) — and her numbers were up on her 2022 form.

It was just what Georgia needed.

Patrikios was second to only Jaimee Lambert when it came to average disposals per game during Season 7 (2023), Olivia Vesely rounding out the top three at St Kilda. Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au

After missing a season, the continuity of back-to-back seasons in late 2022 and then 2023 provided a strong foundation that was sure to push Patrikios to another level. Unfortunately, 2024 dealt another blow.

Injury kept her from adding to her impressive numbers in Season 9, and the Saints felt her absence. Key players like Lambert, Watson and Smith performed strongly, but it wasn't enough, and St Kilda finished 11th on the ladder with Patrikios not playing one game.

Now, with season 10 less than 60 days away, reports from the Saints’ training track suggest Patrikios is back to her explosive best — poised to become a key piece in their push up the standings in 2025. Her return brings not just creativity and toughness around the ball, but a maturity that can lift teammates and shape the team’s finals hopes.

Patrikios prepares to deliver to her teammates back in 2022 versus Carlton. Photo: Herald Sun

The Crumbs podcast recently caught up with St Kilda’s AFLW Player Development Manager, Steph Chiocci, who described Georgia as “flying” this pre-season.

“If you asked me who to look out for at St Kilda this season, Georgia would be at the top of the list. I know she’s already been an All-Australian, but she was struck down with injury last season and probably didn’t play her best footy the year prior. I think she’s a star.”

For St Kilda, Patrikios isn’t just a nice addition, she’s a potential match-winner. The Saints are a side on the rise, and having their superstar back could be the spark they need to become genuine contenders in 2025.

Fans will be waiting for more Patrikios goals in 2025. Photo: St Kilda FC

Her story is more than a comeback. Her being back on the ground with her teammates will be a testament to her perseverance and will no doubt provide some inspiration to those around her.

Rising quickly, battling through adversity, and now poised to return stronger, Patrikios embodies the very spirit of the AFLW. We’re predicting a massive season for Georgia, one that enters her into 2025 All-Australian conversations. Let's revisit that prediction come season's end.

For now, as their first match of 2025 versus the Adelaide Crows awaits on Sunday 17th August, there’s a growing buzz that Patrikios could be a decisive factor in St Kilda's push up the ladder.