Madison Prespakis shrugs off extra attention to headline inaugural AFLPA AFL Women’s 22Under22 team

They might only be new to AFL Women’s, but “generation next” took a huge step in 2020 with many young guns fully-blown stars in their own right. So who was named in the first-ever AFLPA AFLW 22Under22 team?

Madison Prespakis knew the attention would come this season – but that didn’t make it any easier.

The star Blues midfielder was often first in the sights of opposition teams in AFLW04, which ended prematurely last month due to coronavirus measures.

The 19-year-old — one to watch after claiming the 2019 rising star — said a battering in the season’s opening clash with Richmond had set the tone, but she believes it has helped shape her into an even better player.

“I was aware of it coming into the season and the first night just showed that that was going to happen week-in, week-out,” Prespakis said.

“It was quite a heavy night. I was prepared for it coming into every game, and the girls were also behind me. It made me a lot more resilient.

Madison Prespakis has become a star in her own right. Picture: Michael Klein

“It is hard, and it gets into your head, because it annoys you at the same time – it’s a bit like ‘go and pick on someone else!’.

“I enjoyed the challenge, and if anything, it made me a better player and made me improve my game a lot more and take it to the next level.”

“It’s an honour in a way. It’s a good compliment that that’s how other teams view you. I learned a lot but had the girls and Harf (coach Daniel Harford) and the coaches behind me the whole way.”

In the latest boon in the emerging force’s second season, Prespakis has been named vice-captain of the first AFLPA AFLW 22Under22 team, which recognises the next generation of players.

To be eligible, players must be aged 22 or under for the entirety of the season with the line-up voted by fans.

She was named alongside the likes of fellow rising star winner and Magpie Chloe Molloy, who was named skipper, inaugural rising star winner Ebony Marinoff and first-year players Georgia Patrikios, Caitlin Greiser, Gabby Newton and Roxy Roux.

Chloe Molloy returned from a serious foot injury this season and didn’t miss a beat. Picture: AFL Photos

It was the season that “generation next” took its next step, Prespakis said.

She did, too.

“I wasn’t part of the leadership group or anything, but I felt more of a leader to the team,” the All-Australian said.

“With Bri (Davey) leaving the midfield, there was a lot of questions marks on what the midfield was going to look like, and what we were going to look like as a team. This year, we had Lucy (McEvoy) and Grace (Egan) come into the midfield … we were able to feed off each other really well and I was able to relate to them a lot.”

MORE AFLW NEWS:

Glenn McFarlane rates the 10 best matches between Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day

Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson reflects on Gary Moorcroft’s Mark of the Year

KFC SuperCoach: The best and worst scores from the fifth round

Caitlin Greiser was a dominant force up forward for the Saints and earned selection in the inaugural AFLPA AFLW 22Under22 team. Picture: AFL Photos

Prespakis is considered a hot chance to take out more individual silverware in coming weeks, and is nominated for the AFLPA MVP award which will be announced today.

“I have worked really hard, and there’s still a lot more work to do,” she said.

“But being 19 and in the mix with players like Jasmine Garner, Emma Kearney, Karen Paxman and Kiara Bowers … it’s a massive honour and it’s pretty crazy to think that I can be (there).

“Even playing against them … is always exciting. To have my name there is awesome. It’s crazy though. I didn’t think it would happen.

“It’s not why I play footy though – my main thing is I was to win a premiership … to be part of these things on the way is obviously really exciting.”

Originally published as Madison Prespakis shrugs off extra attention to headline inaugural AFLPA AFL Women’s 22Under22 team