Greater Western Sydney head coach Leon Cameron says Jonathon Patton will have a few demons to overcome when he returns to Manuka Oval, the ground where he ended his 2013 AFL season with a crippling knee injury.
Patton, a former number-one draft pick for the Giants, went down with a torn ACL in his right knee at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in round three against St Kilda in 2013.
In what is his first game against another AFL club since the injury, the 20-year-old forward will return to Manuka Oval on Thursday night when the Giants play city rivals the Sydney Swans in their first NAB Cup fixture.
The significance of the location hasn’t been lost on Patton, according to Cameron.
“No doubt there will be a few demons here and there because this is where he hurt his knee,” Cameron said.
“But we spoke about that during the week and he just wants to get out there and have a crack.”
Cameron says he’s been impressed by Patton bounce-back from the injury, which followed a persistent patella tendon injury and surgery on his left knee.
“It’s always tough, especially for a big key player … to come back from a big injury,” he said.
“But in terms of how he’s gone about it, it has just been phenomenal.”
The match will also hold significance for new GWS recruit Shane Mumford, because it will be the first time the premiership-winning ruckman will bash against his old teammates.
“It’s always a little bit awkward that first time,” the 27-year-old said.
“Obviously, you want to get it done as quick as possible, and it being in the NAB Cup is not a bad format to do it.
He said that after a few intra-club games in the pre-season, he was just excited to be finally going up against an opposition side.
“You don’t want to go flat out when you’re playing against your own teammates,” he said.
“Whereas now you’re actually running into a few other bodies where it doesn’t matter if you hurt them – so you’ll probably see me flying around a little bit.”
Sydney Swans star recruit Lance Franklin will be rested from the match.