Josh Patullo’s SANFL stocks rising in first season at Sturt Football Club after move from Footscray
Josh Patullo says “no one would have batted an eyelid” had he been dropped after a tough start to his Sturt career. But now the man known as “Pooch” is leading the SANFL in a key stat.
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Josh Patullo reckons he is pretty lucky he wasn’t dropped by coach Nathan Grima in a lean start to his Sturt career.
After three matches the Double Blues key forward, recruited from Footscray in the off-season, was averaging just nine touches, three marks and less than a goal a game.
“Early days no one would have batted an eyelid if he (Grima) dropped me after a couple of rounds,” Patullo, 21, says.
“He said he saw something in me and that I could improve.
“I struggled to find my feet but, as the season’s gone on, I’ve felt better and better every week.
“Nathan’s been awesome for me, helping me out, especially with contested marking at training.”
As the Double Blues enter this Saturday’s elimination final against Norwood at Adelaide Oval, Patullo leads the SANFL for contested marks and has become a key cog in Grima’s game plan.
In last Saturday’s crucial round 18 clash against Glenelg, Patullo was stretchered off after a head knock midway through the second quarter.
But the mobile forward was stitched up and returned to the field to kick four goals as the Double Blues triumphed over the ladder-leaders by 12 points to secure a finals spot.
Patullo, who grew up on a dairy farm in the southeast Victorian town of Lang Lang, played four VFL games for Footscray in 2018 before taking the plunge and moving to SA.
His primary reason was to gain state league experience and, after 15 games with Sturt, he has no regrets.
Like many, a move to the AFL remains a dream for the man referred to as “Pooch” by his Double Blues teammates.
But Patullo remains coy, despite his contested marking skills surely catching the eye of scouts.
“I’m glad I made the choice to come here because I’ve gotten the opportunity I wanted,” he says.
“The AFL is definitely a goal of mine – it has been my whole life – but the last two years I’ve just taken the attitude of what will happen will happen.
“I just want to play the best footy I can and win as many games as I can.”
Patullo and the Double Blues will look to turn the tables on Norwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, after losing to the Redlegs by 59 points in round 17.
The winner will take on the loser of the qualifying final between Port Adelaide and Adelaide.
patrick.keam@news.com.au