For season 2016, the Greater Western Sydney Giants are off to a flying start. They are currently sitting at 3rd spot on the AFL table and are a seriously good football team. They have already beaten Geelong and reigning premiers in Hawthorn in dominating fashion. The once laughing stock of the AFL are now taken very seriously by all teams who challenge them. The journey has been a tough one for many at the club. One player in particular who has seen the toughest of times is Jonathon Patton.
Jon has suffered two major injuries during his time at the GWS Giants. He has twice experienced a nasty torn (ACL) anterior cruciate ligament injury. Just the wording of the damage sounds scary enough, but to be able to recover and then face the pressure of AFL football surely takes courage and determination, something Jonathon Patton has in spades.
Dark Days. During round 3, 2013 at Manuka Oval, Jon suffered a season ending ACL injury Photo: Jodie Newell
Firstly the Greater Western Sydney Giants should be applauded for standing by Jon, especially after his second nasty knee injury. They re-committed their support to him and with fingers crossed that faith is being payed back with Jon’s quiet but efficient progress on the field. He’s already booted 8 goals in 7 rounds of football and is providing another significant target up forward for the Giants. Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb have been outstanding in recent weeks with Jon Patton adding another dimension to a potent Giants forward line.
Jon Patton (2nd, right) is a key component of the GWS Giants forward strategy in season 2016. Photo: Jodie Newell
One thing many fans and writers forget is reading between the lines of the team injury list summations. Injury time out could equate indefinite or season or 8-12 weeks. Nobody could understand except the player what the blanks mean, that is time spent in re-hab, the up and downs of knowing if the leg will return to it’s former strength. Will the dream of playing AFL end prematurely after such hard work in getting to this level in the first place?. Then the ultimate test of actually running onto the field of an AFL game and testing the legs.
Jon Patton (left) is now an integral part of the GWS Giants on-field team. Photo: Jodie Newell
We’ve heard stories of past champions such as Doug Hawkins of Footscray say he was never the same after he copped a serious season ending knee injury, yet fortunately with the technology and medical procedures of 2016, players who do suffer the dreaded ACL have an excellent chance to return and play good football.
In the contest. Jon Patton hand passes the ball to one of his forward teammates last Saturday night against the Gold Coast Suns. Photo: Jodie Newell
It’s heartening to see a player such as Jon Patton return and contribute to a team that truly is an underdog outfit. It wouldn’t be inconceivable in past seasons for opposing coaches to pencil in any game against the Giants as a guaranteed win. In May of 2016 that certainty is long gone. We’ve seen the Giants since their inception of 2012 and believe me, there isn’t a team playing a more exciting brand of AFL football, than the boys in orange from the West of Sydney and Jon Patton is part of that excitement. Here’s hoping he’ll be part of it for a long time to come.
