JONATHON Patton showed the benefits of his first AFL pre-season, kicking two goals in Greater Western Sydney's two-point NAB Cup loss to Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Patton, who underwent knee surgery in January last year and didn't play his first match until round 12, looks considerably leaner and fitter this time around in the GWS forward line.
Sam Rowe, who has overcome testicular cancer to return to the Blues' line-up, was another good news story to come from the match, also kicking two goals in an encouraging display.
The Giants made all the early running, but the Blues kicked three late goals to steal a 0.4.10 (34) to 0.5.2 (32) victory in Mick Malthouse's first match in charge of his new club.
In a Blues team missing Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer and Jarrad Waite, Shaun Hampson, Levi Casboult and Kade Simpson performed well ahead of their second match of the night against the Sydney Swans.
There were also some excellent signs for the young Giants, who are preparing for their second season in the AFL.
Anthony Miles, who had a game-high 14 touches, Adam Kennedy, Adam Treloar and Steve Coniglio all found plenty of the football and appear ready to make some good contributions this coming season.
Patton's first goal was an opportunistic effort, benefiting from Matthew Watson's inability to secure possession and soccering the ball through off the deck from one metre out.
He then got on the end of a neat forward entry from Rhys Palmer and pulled his set shot left for a behind, but the 19-year-old's next effort wowed the crowd.
Spilling a contested mark near the 50m arc, he then roved the loose ball, pirouetted past two opponents and snapped the goal across his body from 40m out.
GWS' Lachie Whitfield, the first pick in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, showed some early nerves, with his first kick sailing out on the full under little pressure.
But he steadied and showed good pace in his first official outing, finishing with seven possessions.
AFL Fantasy Snapshot
They were No.1 picks for good reason, so it was no surprise to see 2011 top draft pick Jonathan Patton (FWD, $183,300) and his 2012 compatriot Lachie Whitfield (MID, $183,700) feature. While fellow forward Jeremy Cameron received much of the fanfare last year, Patton showed he has just as much ability against the Blues. The big forward kicked two first-half goals and racked up with 25 fantasy points, including a superb snap after bullocking his way through traffic. Whitfield, fresh off his first AFL pre-season, displayed plenty of promise. His hard running and poise in traffic were the key highlights in his 32 fantasy points.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.4.1 0.5.2 (32)
CARLTON 0.1.6 0.4.10 (34)
SUPERGOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Carlton: Nil
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Patton 2, Cameron, Gilham, Sumner
Carlton: Rowe 2, Hampson
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Miles, Kennedy, Treloar, Coniglio, Shiel, Patton
Carlton: Hampson, Gibbs, Simpson, Rowe, Casboult, Robinson
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
Carlton: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: TBA
Official crowd: TBC at Blacktown International Sportspark
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
