Siena Auskick is now into week three of its program and they had a special visitor on Thursday afternoon in Brisbane Lions backline player Joel Patfull.
We enjoyed a super Auskick session with around 80 youngsters greatly enjoying the experience with Joel and plenty of AFLQ staff. Some of the Buderim Mountains State School Auskickers slipped down the hill to also take part in the afternoon activities.
Our great friends at NAB also came to the party with a giant sausage sizzle that kept Craig and fellow staff busy feeding all post activity. NAB was also generous enough to give away an NAB water bottle to all Auskickers. In fact this whole event of getting Joel Patfull to Siena was organised by Kawana Shopping Worlds NAB Branch Manager Lisa Kozlowski. So a big vote of thanks is extended to all at NAB for getting out amongst the fun of this afternoon.
To wrap the session up after Joel had been an octopus in octopus tiggy, a target in bomb the coach, hunted down for a kick and the occasional speckie taken upon our friend, Toddy from HOT 91.1 did a quick Q & A - from which we learnt that Joel can only eat 6 weet bix.
A former Port Adelaide rookie Patfull has quickly become one of the Lions most reliable and versatile options down back since being drafted as a ‘mature recruit’ in 2005. The South Australian’s ability to shut-down opponents while creating drive from the backline remains an integral component of the Lions’ defensive structure.
Patfull didn’t follow a conventional path to the AFL. He represented South Australia in the 2002 U18 national championships but was overlooked at the National Draft. He debuted in round 8 of the 2006 season and has played 85 games since at 190cm and 89kg.
Port Adelaide threw Patfull an AFL lifeline by adding him to their rookie list where he spent the next two seasons without playing a senior match. He was delisted by the Power at the end of the 2004 season and returned to the local SANFL with Norwood.
He was a standout in the SANFL and finished Runner-up in Norwood’s Best and Fairest award which caught the eye of the Lions recruiters – in particular, forward scout Graham Wright. Patfull was then subsequently invited to join the Lions for their pre-season training program at the Gabba.
The Club eventually took a punt on the then 21 year-old utility by drafting him with Pick No.56 in the 2005 National Draft. For Patfull, it proved a second chance at an AFL career. In 2008 Patfull won the Lions awards for Best Defender and Most Improved Player.
Good luck to Joel and the Lions for this Sunday’s important encounter against the Crows in Adelaide.
Last Modified on 03/06/2010 10:29