Paddy Dow

Patrick "Paddy" Dow (born 16 October 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Carlton with their first selection, and third overall, in the 2017 AFL draft. He made his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2018 season against Richmond at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He earned an AFL Rising Star award nomination for his performance against Collingwood in round 14, 2018.

Early life and career
Dow grew up in Swan Hill and attended St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill . In 2015 (year 10), he started attending Geelong Grammar School on a sports scholarship, and he was selected to play for Victoria Country at the AFL Under 16 Championships. He then started playing for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup. In 2017, he pulled off a great performance against Gippsland Power, amassing 35 disposals and kicking 2 goals; however, his season was cut short, as he injured his shoulder in the third quarter, requiring surgery. He finished his 2017 TAC Cup season averaging 18.5 disposals, 12 contested possession and 3 tackles.

Carlton (2017–2023)
Carlton selected Dow with their first pick, number three overall, in the 2017 AFL draft. He made his AFL debut in the twenty-six point loss to at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 2018 season. After the twenty-point loss to in round 15, in which he recorded 20 disposals and 4 tackles, he earned the round nomination for the 2018 AFL Rising Star award. He played a total of 20 games in his debut year, averaging more than 14 disposals per game.

In March 2018, Dow signed a three-year contract extension with Carlton, committing his future to the club until 2022.

St Kilda (2024-Present)
At the end of 2023 after difficulties breaking into Carlton's AFL side, Dow was traded to St Kilda, Where he currently plays under head St Kilda Coach Ross Lyon.

Personal life
Dow is currently studying a Bachelor of Business at Deakin University. He is the older brother of midfielder Thomson Dow.

Statistics
As of the end of round 23 2021

! colspan=3| Career ! 40 ! 14 ! 19 ! 278 ! 284 ! 562 ! 83 ! 116 ! 0.4 ! 0.5 ! 7.0 ! 7.1 ! 14.1 ! 2.1 ! 2.9
 * - style="background:#EAEAEA"
 * scope="row" text-align:center | 2018
 * 2 || 20 || 7 || 7 || 136 || 148 || 284 || 40 || 64 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 6.8 || 7.4 || 14.2 || 2 || 3.2
 * scope="row" text-align:center | 2019
 * 2 || 19 || 7 || 10 || 138 || 133 || 271 || 40 || 50 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 7.2 || 7 || 14.2 || 2.1 || 2.6
 * - style="background:#EAEAEA"
 * scope="row" text-align:center | 2020
 * 2 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 12 || 15 || 27 || 6 || 3 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 4.0 || 5.0 || 9.0 || 2.0 || 1.0
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * scope="row" text-align:center | 2021
 * 2 || 17 || 4 || 2 || 95 || 147 || 242 || 28 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 5.5 || 8.6 || 14.2 || 1.6 || 2.2
 * - style="background:#EAEAEA"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * scope="row" text-align:center | 2021
 * 2 || 17 || 4 || 2 || 95 || 147 || 242 || 28 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 5.5 || 8.6 || 14.2 || 1.6 || 2.2
 * - style="background:#EAEAEA"
 * 2 || 17 || 4 || 2 || 95 || 147 || 242 || 28 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 5.5 || 8.6 || 14.2 || 1.6 || 2.2
 * - style="background:#EAEAEA"
 * }