GWS forward Jonathon Patton has reached his 50-game milestone the hard way
FOR the last 20 No.1 AFL draft picks the 50-game milestone has been a mere formality but for the GWS Giants’ Jonathon Patton it has been a trying journey.
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FOR the last 20 No.1 AFL draft picks the 50-game milestone has been a formality but for Greater Western Sydney’s Jonathon Patton it has been a trying journey.
Patella tendinitis and two knee reconstructions restricted the big key forward to just 32 games in four seasons at the Giants but 18 games from a possible 19 this season will see the 23-year-old produce the first mini-celebration of his career against the Gold Coast.
“A lot of guys don’t even get to 50 games,” Patton said. “I’m thankful to get there but I’m focusing on the weekend.”
Patton’s progress this season has been steady without being startling. His 26 contested marks have him in the AFL’s top 25 and his 19 goals are a respectable output from a player who is still finding his feet.
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At 198cm and 103kg Patton is an old fashioned key forward in the mould of Tom Hawkins and like Hawkins his next 50 games promise to be much improved.
“Young key forwards can look at Tom and know it’s not that you’re not good enough,” Patton said.
“It’s about being patient. I’m trying to find consistency and connection with other forwards. All tall players take longer to develop, I’ve had a couple of injuries which have hindered me, and I’m still playing catch up.”
Part of that process of the catching up process has involved playing in defence which Patton has done very well.
“I really enjoy it playing a different role,” Patton said.
“Sometimes you can get a bit lost in the forward line, if the ball isn’t coming in the way you want it to it can get a bit quiet. When you’ve been quiet and you go behind the ball and take a couple of marks and you get your confidence back.”
Patton has also been helped by an even contribution from his fellow forwards, who trail only Adelaide in goal scoring this year.
“I’m lucky I’m in a team with more than one key forward,” Patton said.
“As well as Jezza (Cameron) there’s Rory Lobb and Steve Johnson, Toby Greene Devon Smith and Sam Reid, it’s a great mix. We need to help each other more in the forward line and we’re certainly a lot better than round one. Everyone is playing selfless footy, no one is hungry for the goals, as long as we get the goals that’s all that matters.”
The Giants’ 88-point belting of Richmond last Saturday effectively secured their first ever finals appearance but they are not content with just participating
“We always had belief we could play finals,” Patton said.
“It’s great we can replay our fans for staying loyal to us but we’ve still got four games left and the top six is really tight. We have to concentrate on every game one at a time so we can go deep into the finals.”
Originally published as GWS forward Jonathon Patton has reached his 50-game milestone the hard way
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