Jonathon Patton lands at Kangaroo Flat

A country club has dropped a recruiting bombshell with the signing of a former number one AFL draft pick. Find out when he will play.

Kangaroo Flat has dropped a mid-season recruiting bombshell after announcing the signing of former AFL forward Jonathon Patton.

And he could play as soon as a fortnight from now.

The 2011 number one AFL Draft pick will link up with the Bendigo league club for the remainder of the 2023 season after his arrival was confirmed on Friday night.

“Nathan (our coach) and Jonathon have been friends for a few years,” Kangaroo Flat president Leigh Bailey said.

“The conversation started, probably a couple of weeks ago, and he’s got that bit of zest in him to get back to footy and get involved.”

The 30-year-old has not been named in the Roos’ side to take on Strathfieldsaye on Saturday afternoon.

But he may line up against Golden Square on June 17.

Jonathon Patton will be playing in Bendigo later this month. Picture: AAP Image/David Moir

Bailey said he’s hopeful Patton can play enough games to make an impact on the club and qualify for finals if the team makes it.

“We’re looking at potentially five games (at a minimum),” he said.

“That’s what we came to in the arrangement.

“We’re looking at playing his first game against Golden Square in a couple of weeks and then we’ll see how it moves from there.”

Bailey said the signing was a boost for the club, on and off the field.

The team is currently sixth, with three wins so far in the Bendigo league.

The president hopes more teams will respect what the club is doing.

“We have been trying (to earn it) but when you are down the rung a bit it is always is a little bit harder to get recruits, especially in country footy,” Bailey said.

“We hope we are turning a corner in that and we have been working on it for a few years.

“Hopefully with Johnny on board it gives us a bit more of a profile.”

Kangaroo Flat takes on Strathfieldsaye on Saturday at 2.20pm.