South Australian draft prospect Mattaes Phillipou has followed an unconventional path in his career thus far, but is confident that he can make an impact at AFL level.
Speaking to Kane Cornes and Andrew Hayes on SEN SA Breakfast, the 18-year-old explained how he spread out his year 12 studies across two years, allowing for a lighter workload across this season.
“I think it’s been enormous … whether it’s focusing on football or exploring that balance and making sure I’m focused in other areas,” he said.
The teenager is not the first Phillipou to make waves in South Australian football culture, with dad Sam a champion player for Woodville-West Torrens who struggled to find form during his one and only AFL season with Footscray in 1995.
Mattaes' grandfather Peter also donned the Eagles' jersey in the SANFL on 272 occasions across a career that stretched from 1967 through 1984.
Phillipou describes himself as a midfielder whose height allows him to take on other positions around the ground, and points to training at father Sam’s athletics academy as grounding for his versatility.
“It’s been four, five years now of working on that power, the speed, endurance, the agility,” he added.
One of the state’s top prospects, Phillipou says he’s been contacted by 14 of the 18 AFL clubs, but expects to have more of a chance to impress recruiters at the draft combine in early October.
“I think (the combine) is where they want to meet you in person and see what you’re like under the bright lights,” he added.