Mattaes Phillipou is officially a Saint, joining the red, white and black with pick No. 10 at tonight’s 2022 NAB AFL Draft.
A confident and athletic midfielder/forward who has the potential to become a prominent impact player, the South Australian adds to St Kilda’s emerging young core of Max King, Marcus Windager, Mitch Owens and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera heading into 2023 and beyond.
Regarded as this year’s most impressive talent from South Australia, Phillipou pieced together a strong campaign for Woodville-West Torrens U18s – complete with three reserves appearances – before an ankle injury in August cut his campaign short.
Phillipou is the son of former Western Bulldogs player Sam Phillipou, who played three games for the club in 1995.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mattaes to St Kilda,” Head of List Management James Gallagher said.
“We look forward to seeing Mattaes grow as a player and person at St Kilda and we’re excited to see what his future holds.”
The selection for Phillipou, originally pick No. 9, was bumped down one spot after Brisbane matched North Melbourne’s bid for father-son recruit Will Ashcroft at pick No. 2.
St Kilda will take picks 28, 32, 47, 73 and 81 into tomorrow evening’s continuation of the 2022 NAB AFL Draft.
