Patton to be ’15-year’ Giant: Cameron

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron says re-signed forward Jon Patton will be a 15-year player and premiership winner for his club and has warned his team are fast closing the gap on rival AFL teams.

The Giants led for most of Saturday’s game against Collingwood at Spotless Stadium before suffering an eight-point loss.

In their five games decided by single digits this season, the Giants have won only won, by eight points against Carlton.

They lost by seven to Geelong, Hawthorn and St Kilda and by eight to Collingwood.

‘We need to find a way to win those close games because we’re going to be in a lot of them next year,” Cameron said.

“We’re really bridging the gap and we’re coming and we’re coming fast.”

He was delighted by the announcement earlier on Saturday that Patton had extended his contract by two years to the end of the 2017 season.

The big key forward had his season ended prematurely by an anterior cruciate ligament knee, which will probably keep him out of most, if not all, of next year.

“It’s obviously disappointing with the injury last week, but to have him recommit and our club recommit, just shows that we’re here for the long term,” Cameron said.

“He’s a 15-year player for our footy club, He’s going to be a premiership player for our footy club.”

Victorian clubs, especially Western Bulldogs, were known to be interested in enticing Patton back to his home state.

Cameron hinted other players would shortly follow Patton’s lead.

“It (Patton re-signing) sends a really strong message, not just to our current crop of players but the other 17 clubs, that Jon Patton wants to be with this footy club,” Cameron said.

‘We’ll make a few announcements in the next week or two about some other players that have recommitted as well, so we’re heading in the right direction.”

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