24 Joel Patfull

Choose another playerAdcock, Jed - [7]Austin, Matt - [8]Banfield, Todd - [18]Bartlett, Callum - [13]Black, Simon - [20]Brennan, Jared - [17]Brown, Jonathan - [16]Buchanan, Amon - [33]Charman, Jamie - [19]Clark, Mitchell - [1]Clarke, Xavier - [15]Collier, Tom - [22]Cornelius, Aaron - [44]Drummond, Josh - [39]Fevola, Brendan - [5]Hanley, Pearce - [42]Harwood, Ryan - [26]Hawksley, James - [12]Johnstone, Travis - [4]Leuenberger, Matthew - [23]Maguire, Matt - [36]McCulloch, Bart - [25]McGrath, Ashley - [9]Merrett, Daniel - [21]O'Brien, Jesse - [34]Patfull, Joel - [24]Polkinghorne, James - [31]Power, Luke - [6]Proud, Albert - [2]Raines, Andrew - [29]Redden, Jack - [30]Retzlaff, Bryce - [37]Rich, Daniel - [10]Rischitelli, Michael - [35]Rockliff, Tom - [38]Selwood, Troy - [28]Sheldon, Sam - [3]Sherman, Justin - [11]Staker, Brent - [14]Stiller, Cheynee - [32]

Introduction
Former Port Adelaide rookie Joel Patfull has quickly become one of the team’s 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.

Background
• Joel 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.

• 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 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.

2006
• After an impressive pre-season and senior experience in the SANFL under his belt, Patfull looked in the mix to make his AFL debut early in the season.

• Unfortunately, he hurt his knee in the Lions’ intra-club practice match which sidelined him for the better part of six weeks.

• He returned through the Reserves in April and soon got his opportunity against former club Port Adelaide in Round 8 at AAMI Stadium.

• His debut came in unique circumstances given he was not selected in the initial 25-man squad to face the Power. He was first added as an emergency after Daniel Merrett was forced to withdraw with hamstring tightness and later promoted to the senior team when centre-half back Justin Leppitsch failed to make the trip due to a back-related calf complaint.

• His AFL debut turned out to be every bit the proverbial ‘dream come true’. He booted a goal from a set shot with his first kick and then went on to play an important role opposed to Power star Chad Cornes. The match was sweetened even further when the Lions ran out comfortable winners against the side he spent two years with as a rookie.

• He finished his first match with eight possessions, three marks, three tackles, one goal and had a hand in a number of other Lions majors.

• He remained in the senior team for the remainder of the season and averaged 8.9 disposals – including a season-high 18 touches against Carlton at the Gabba.

2007
• Patfull retained his position in the senior side from Round One and quickly became an important part of the team.

• He was shifted to play both up forward and in defence depending on the opposition where his versatility became an asset.

• He played important roles on dangerous forwards and even booted a career-high three goals when moved forward against Richmond in the Round 10 draw.

• His season – and run of 36 uninterrupted senior matches since his debut – came to a halt in Round 21 when he dislocated his shoulder against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. He missed just the one match – the team’s Round 22 clash with Geelong – and spent much of the off-season rehabilitating from the surgery.

• He finished 10th in the Club Champion award in only his second season.

2008
• Patfull began to slowly shed his ‘underrated’ tag in the early stages of 2008 when he became one of the team’s key defenders.

• He transformed himself from a promising utility into an ever-reliable centre half-back whose ability to generate forward thrusts from the backline became equally as important as his supreme shut-down skills.

• His height, speed and athleticism enabled him to play – and beat – a range of opposition forwards throughout the season including Geelong’s Cameron Mooney, Melbourne’ Russell Robertson and Adelaide’s Brett Burton among others.

• He played in all 22 matches to take his career total to 58 of a possible 59 matches since making his debut back in 2006.

• It came as no surprise that Patfull was chosen as the Club’s Most Improved Player and recognised as the Lions’ Best Defender.

• The South Australian also finished a career-best 7th in the Merrett-Murray Medal voting – his second consecutive top ten finish.

2009
• Now widely recognised as one of the team's most important players, Patfull continued to match-up on the opposition's second forward - regardless of their size.

• His versatility was an asset and he was used in a variety of roles. He collected a career-high 21 disposals in the opening match of the season against West Coast and then in Round 3 performed a superb tagging role on dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes. 

• The Lions backline was rocked when Patfull broke his jaw in Round 8 against Adelaide at the Gabba in the same match that regular full-back Daniel Merrett badly sprained his ankle. After missing just one match since making his debut with the Club in 2006, Patfull spent the next four matches on the sidelines.

• He returned in Round 13 and went on to play an important role in the Lions' Finals campaign. He averaged a career-best 13 disposals across his 20 matches in 2009. 

• The versatile defender finished 8th in the Merrett-Murray Medal voting despite missing four matches throughout the season with a broken jaw. It was his third consecutive top ten finish in the Club's highest individual honour.