Trip home that sparked Flash

TYPE Lajamanu into the RACQ trip planner and watch what happens.

Liam Patrick

TYPE Lajamanu into the RACQ trip planner and watch what happens.

Ordinarily, it spits out directions within milliseconds.

Finding this remote Northern Territory community, however, almost drives the website into a nervous breakdown.

To Gold Coast Suns forward Liam Patrick, Lajamanu is more than a destination.

It is home.

This hot and dusty speck, about halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs, is his power source.

That is what you would surmise after the homecoming in May that turned around his season.

The "Lajamanu Lightning Bolt'' looked to be stranded in the reserves until the Suns' round 8 clash with the Western Bulldogs in Darwin.

Patrick narrowly missed selection that week, but he was sent to the Territory with teammate Jarrod Harbrow to help promote the match.

A devoted family man, Patrick made the 900km trek south to Lajamanu where he renewed his ties to its people and culture.

"Seeing family and friends again was fantastic and having Jarrod come with me was also good for both of us,'' Patrick said.

"He has helped me a lot and shows a lot of interest about my people and our tradition. I think he enjoyed it.

''That was a turning point for the forward, nicknamed ``the Flash'' by Suns coach Guy McKenna.

The 24-year-old burst into the side for the round 12 meeting with North Melbourne, running and tackling like a man possessed.

Patrick has not missed a match since and is one of the few truly dangerous threats in the Suns' forward line.

"I don't know if (the visit) has helped. It reminded me about how proud my family and friends are and (how) they want me to be successful,'' Patrick said. "It was hard leaving but knowing they support me makes it easier.''