How an apprentice electrician sparked an incredible come back victory for Cygnet
It could have been just another week on the tools for the 19-year-old apprentice electrician who booted Cygnet into an SFL grand – but instead, he’s still floating on cloud nine over the win.
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IT COULD have been a long week on the tools for Luke Paton but instead he is the King of Cygnet after booting The Port into their first grand final in 15 years.
Paton, 19, kicked the last two goals of the game, including a long set shot deep in time on to put Cygnet in front, as The Port held on by two points over Huon rivals Huonville in last Saturday’s SFL second semi-final.
He is an apprentice electrician working alongside Cygnet playing-coach Ben Cato, and hates to thing what his week would have been had he sprayed that matchwinning shot.
“It would have been a silent week had I missed that’s for sure,” Paton said.
“It is just him and I so I see him quite a few days of the week and it can be a bit much sometimes but it is not too bad.”
Paton first attempted to look for a teammate in a better position, but unable to find one took the shot from outside his normal distance, only to flush the shot on goal.
The Port, playing at Huonville, trailed by as much as 35 points in the second term.
“It is unexplainable really, there were so many emotions,” he said.
“How we didn’t give up was just incredible. We are just mentally strong as a team and something miraculous happened. I can’t claim all the fame, I was just the one that finished and here were so many good efforts before it.
Originally from North Hobart Football Club, he was “dragged” south by some mates last year.
He debuted in the seniors first game last season and has been a permanent fixture ever since.
Paton said the atmosphere in the change rooms past match were electrifying as they now prepare to play the winner of Huonville v Lindisfarne in the grand final.
“It has been a crazy ride to get there and hopefully we can finish the job,” Paton said.
“I wasn’t aware of how big of a deal it was, especially being 15 years since we’ve made it, and there are some guys in our team that are quite emotional about it because it is so exciting.”
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