James Dampney - afl.com.au

INJURY prevented last year's No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick Jonathon Patton from showing what he could do in 2012, but Greater Western Sydney expects the teenaged key forward to turn heads next season.

Amid reports the Giants are prepared to trade draft picks in an attempt to snare Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett, in Patton they have a potentially dominant spearhead who barely got going last season.

Knee surgery in Sweden in January meant the Eastern Ranges product had little to no pre-season and didn't turn out for the Giants until round 12.

GWS admits he was never right physically for AFL level in 2012, yet the club felt it was important for his state of mind to give him a taste of senior football.

He managed seven games, kicking four goals, but a new-look Patton should be on display at the start of next season.

"No, I don't think he did at all," GWS head of sports science John Quinn told AFL.com.au when asked if Patton had a chance to show his best in 2012.

"When we drafted him and went through due process on how we were going to manage him, we got all sorts of opinions from experts here and overseas.

"In the end we determined he'd be best to have the surgery in Sweden.

"The way he recovered and rehabilitated from that injury was fantastic, but he still wasn't conditioned to play the game. He hadn't played for about seven months by the time we got him training and playing.

"He knew he wasn't in the best physical condition, but it was important for his mental approach and to keep him motivated for him to play.

"He's up and going now and a good pre-season under Jon Patton, I think people are going to be really surprised with what he brings to us."

Despite being the first overall pick, Patton became somewhat forgotten for large parts of the Giants' first season, while the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene and Steve Coniglio stole the headlines.

But the Giants still view Patton as the jewel in the crown, although they are prepared to be patient with the 19-year-old.

"We look at Jon Patton and Jeremy Cameron in our forward line and think it's going to be pretty potent," Quinn said.

"Jon's our number one draft pick, in a team that's been blessed with riches he's our number one, so we've got great expectations, but that doesn't mean we've got great demands.

"It's important we're really patient with what we've got."

Having fully recovered from his knee issue, shoulder surgery ended Patton's season after round 19.

Nearing full fitness, the club is now working on a very specific skill set with the 197cm, 102kg Giant.

"It's about getting his body right and about him understanding his own body better and learning how to move better," Quinn said.

"He has to learn how to move and run and jump.

"Skill-wise we know he's got it, it's just about movement."