GWS forward Jon Patton set to join Hawthorn in search of greater opportunity
Jon Patton is set to take a pay cut to join Hawthorn, with his manager saying a knee injury to housemate and in-demand free agent Stephen Coniglio had delayed the key forward's return to the field.
Jon Patton’s imminent decision to leave for a new start at Hawthorn will be based purely on opportunity as Jarryd Roughead’s career draws to a close.
GWS tall Patton will pass up guaranteed cash in the final year of a lucrative contract to instead land at a club with an opportunity for him to kickstart his career.
The morning after Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said he'd chatted to Patton's housemate Stephen Coniglio about a potential move south, the key forward's manager said while Patton loved Sydney, the Giant might seek greater opportunity.
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"It might be that their forward line is a bit packed and he might need another opportunity," Paul Connors said.
"But he'll look at that at the end of the year, and he's totally supportive of what the Giants are trying to do in the finals series as well."
Connors denied the key forward was locked in a "stand-off" with GWS, with Patton not having taken the field over the past month despite being ready to resume playing after a third knee reconstruction.
"His housemate, Steve Coniglio, he went down and hurt his knee, it wasn't an ACL, but that spooked him (Patton) no end," Connors told SEN.
"There's no standoff. He was probably ready ... four weeks ago but mentally that's just as important as physically and that's what (his surgeon) Julian Feller would say.
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"I think (GWS football manager) Wayne Campbell and the team have handled it superbly because he may get traded but he's contracted to the footy club and there's every chance he could be there.
"The last thing Jon needs is to get injured again."
The foundation Giant and No.1 overall pick in the 2011 national draft looks set to tread the same path as Tom Scully as he rehabilitates a knee injured in July last year.
Patton has interest from other Victorian clubs but seems certain to eventually find his way to the Hawks in a trade for a mid-range pick given his lack of recent football.
He has one more year on a lucrative deal that will effectively be torn up and replaced by what is likely a two-year deal at the Hawks.
Instead of that huge salary he would secure a deal on or around the average AFL salary of $360,000 a season.
In effect he would be taking a significant pay cut but giving himself a chance to extend his career at a club where there is a defined role and long-term future if his body holds up.
GWS has a trio of key position forwards in goalkicker Jeremy Cameron, 23-year-old Harry Himmelberg and 23-year-old Jeremy Finlayson who have combined for 122 goals this year.
Patton would have fierce competition to play a meaningful role at GWS next year, while at Hawthorn there is a clear spot for a key forward.
Alastair Clarkson has tried James Sicily as a key forward with little success, with Mitch Lewis kicking 15 goals in 10 games this year as a 20-year-old emerging forward.
Tim O’Brien has been thrown forward in recent weeks, with Jack Gunston a star All Australian forward who had kicked only 22 goals leading into Friday night’s clash against North Melbourne.
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The cap space provided by Patton’s loss will help the Giants secure Cameron and Lachie Whitfield, who will both be free agents.
Patton suffered two ACL ruptures to his right knee then played 45 games in 2016-17 before tearing his left ACL leading into Round 16, 2018.
Hawthorn has a history of securing injured players including Shaun Burgoyne, Scully and Jaeger O’Meara then maximising their talent.
Patton plans to play as a slimmed down forward when he returns, having worked on his agility and footwork with American sports rehab specialist Bill Knowles in March as part of his ACL rehab.
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Originally published as GWS forward Jon Patton set to join Hawthorn in search of greater opportunity
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