Congratulations to Luke Patterson, who last Saturday played his 50th Senior Game.
After playing all his 109 Junior Games with arch enemy on Mullum Mullum Rd, Patto made the switch from the Norsemen to become a Saint for the 2020 season, along with his mates Mitch Court, Chris Potsios & Will Vagg, helped with the influence of Brad Court …. and let’s not forget the constant asking from the best Secretary in the EFNL, Tammie Palmer, who for years was in the ear of Luke & his parents to come over to the best club in Maroondah😂
With the 2020 shut down with Covid, Luke played his first U/19’s game with us at the start of the 2021 season but would only manage two games in Colts before Robbie Nahas & the Senior match committee realised that this kid had something special to offer.
So, on the Thursday night before our Rd 3 game, Robbie announced that Patto would make his Senior debut against Doncaster East on the mighty Quambee Reserve.
Now in his 4th full season with the Saints, Patto is just going from strength to strength with all his 50 games in the 1’s. Luke is a player that you build a young Senior list around, a young man that gives it his all week in, week out & is highly respected by all at the club from his peers to the Life Members.
Despite being tall in stature and predominantly playing as key position forward & in the ruck, Patto also has the ability to play in the pocket & multiple positions due to his speed & flexibility making him the ultimate swingman for the coaches on game day. Luke is a powerful overhead mark but also extremely dangerous at ground level, along with a booming kick, with the confidence & maturity to announce himself as a prominent forward & General to give the mids & backs a key target to look for.
There is no bigger acknowledgement for a player & what he means to his side & club and that is the acknowledgment from your peers, when he was voted “The Players Choice Award” at last year’s Presentation Night.
Patto’s passion for the club is not just on the field. From the moment he walked through the doors at Quambee, he has put his hand up to help out, whether that be on the gate when we host Senior Women’s finals, organising player functions, cleaning up the rooms he is always asking how can I help? It is evident where Patto gets his club spirit from as his parents Mel & Rohan are just the same, with Mel always there to help with Thursday night meals & social functions & Rohan always there to jump in to help on the BBQ, loading fridges & whatever else is needed, they are a great family for any club to have and we are extremely lucky to have them at NRFC.
In Patto’s 50 games so far, he has been voted in the BOG 10 times & has booted 41 Goals
Congratulations Patto on reaching what is hopefully the first of many more milestones with the Saints & we see the number 16 jumper run around Quambee for years to come!
