James Pattinson likely to play full forward for Doveton

Doveton coach Michael Cardamone has revealed where he will play former Test quick James Pattinson while also addressing Josiah Kyle’s exit.

Defenders in the Southern league’s second flight are likely to sleep uneasy before playing Doveton, knowing they’ll need to restrict James Pattinson the following afternoon.

The former Test man, who signed with the 2022 Division 2 grand finalist in November, will be bursting out of the square for the Doves after his pre-season form has impressed coach Michael Cardamone.

“He’s one I sort of have to manage because he doesn’t have gears two, three four and five, he goes from one to six,” Cardamone said.

“He’s sort of crazy on the track and to his credit we had our fitness camp last weekend and he has put in the hard yards.

“We have been doing a lot of match sim and one-on-one stuff and jeez he’s a beast, he will be hard to stop.

“Yeah, he hasn’t played footy for 15 years but an athlete like him he’s picked it up pretty quickly.”

James Pattinson back in November. Picture: DOVETON FACEBOOK

When Pattinson last played for Doveton, back in 2007 before turning his attention to cricket, he played at centre half-back, but his fluency in front of goal has been too hard to resist for Cardamone.

“(With) his set shot routine for goal, you would think he has played footy for the last 15 years,” he said.

“I was going to play him at centre half-back, but I think the easiest position for him will be full-forward and if he doesn’t mark it, he will bring it to ground.

“We have some really good smalls so he will play forward, that’s for sure.”

While Pattinson adds to the firepower up front, the Doves forward line will be without Team of the Year representative Josiah Kyle, who made a shock move to Mornington Peninsula club Devon Meadows earlier this week.

The process of Kyle’s departure upset Cardamone.

“It’s a subject that I am not too happy with, he did sign and gave all indications that he was pumped at ready to go,” he said.

“I wish him good luck; he is a great person and I love him … that’s what hurt the most.

“As a club we just move on and focus on the 60 blokes that bleed black and green and leave nothing in the tank each week – as a coach that’s all I can ask for.”

Doveton will be without Josiah Kyle. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Despite some turnover at the Doves, losing Matt Stapleton, Travis Woodfield and Trent McMahon, but adding Aaron Johns, Bailey Farrar, Nik Hibbert, Lachie Moss and Nick Pincott, Cardamone is confident his side will contend once again.

“You can’t sit on your hands that’s for sure, no matter if you’re playing AFL, VFL or local footy,” he said.

“We haven’t changed heaps because we did a lot right last year, we just have to tweak a little bit.

“Our inside game needs to go to another level; I think on our big ground we sort of spread opposition with our fitness and that sort of stuff.

“Once we get it on the outside, we feel that we have the skill level and game plan to exploit sides, so I think it’s more our contested ball that we’re working on this pre-season.

“I believe we’re in a good spot to give it another crack.”

Doveton will begin its season on the road to East Malvern, who were relegated from Division 1 last season.