Name: Lily Paterson
Date of Birth: 2 May 2006
Height: 173cm
Position: Midfielder
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Swan Districts
Community Club: Caversham JFC

Port Adelaide has claimed West Australian midfielder Lily Paterson with its first pick (pick 19 overall) at Monday night’s Telstra AFLW Draft.

Having picked up football late after coming from playing soccer and netball, Paterson became a damaging midfielder for Swan Districts in the WAFL Women’s competition in 2024, averaging 23.3 disposals, 3.7 marks, 4.1 tackles and 2.5 inside 50s per game. She also added six goals in her 15 games.

Her season included four games where she recorded more than 30 disposals including two where she had 37 disposals.

Known as a strong two-way runner with clean hands and a good game sense, Paterson can play both on the inside and outside and presents as potentially a ready-made midfielder.

The 18-year-old’s form saw her selected for Western Australia in the national championships. She averaged 21 disposals, 4.7 clearances and 5.3 tackles at the championships despite the Sandgropers ending the carnival without a win and was perhaps unlucky to miss out on All-Australian selection.

List Manager Naomi Maidment said:

“A genuine mid, Lily has elite hands in tight and is very tidy by foot. She accumulates lots of the ball.”