As his mates headed to Schoolies, a dual-code phenom began his AFL ascent

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Dylan Patterson’s AFL career began in a whirlwind week as he traded Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast with his first training session as a Sun.

Sweat drenched his singlet and cascaded down his forehead as the 18-year-old addressed a media scrum on the Glitter Strip, fresh off his first round drafting at pick No.5.

The Palm Beach Currumbin State High alum, described by his school’s head of sport excellence Neil Mackay as “one of the best looking athletic specimens you’ll come across”, was quick to laugh off suggestions he was making a sacrifice forgoing the famed celebration for graduates.

Dylan Patterson began his career with the Gold Coast Suns.

“It’s a sacrifice you have to make, but it’s not really a sacrifice. I’m doing what I want to do, and they can enjoy that,” Patterson said.

“As an adult you have to make decisions. You miss out on parties and stuff, but there’s always opportunity and there’s plenty to come – I still have a long life ahead of me.

“This little loss here is not that big a deal.”

Despite growing up an Aussie rules prospect, a season spent playing fullback in rugby league two years ago for his school and the Currumbin Eagles quickly alerted NRL scouts, with several clubs fielding offers to sign the prodigious talent.

Patterson would not be drawn on which outfits sought to pry him from the AFL’s clutches, but believed that time paved the way for him to become an elite halfback, despite coming through the ranks as a midfielder.

“They [NRL clubs] put a contract on the table, but for me, it was never about that. They all allowed me to still play AFL on the contract, but it was that commitment part I wanted to stay away from,” Patterson revealed.

“For me, it was more just for enjoyment. While I had no commitment to any sport I just wanted to enjoy both and spend time with my mates in both codes.

“I think rugby league definitely helped with my vision in the game and being able to see the game front on, which I think is why I’ve excelled as a halfback recently. Then obviously the physicality helped me just build on areas of my game that could’ve been improved a few years ago.

“I think everyone should have a crack at doing multiple sports, there’s no loss from it, and you only gain attributes from each sport.”

Patterson has all the tools to thrive in the AFL, with Mackay lauding his “elite speed, elite agility and elite kicking” as “a deadly combination”.

But his selection formed part of an esteemed quartet of rookies which has drawn the ire of pundits about the fairness of the national draft, with club academies from outside Victoria able to match bids to retain their talent.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the Suns were able to swoop on Ethan Read, Jed Walter, Jake Rogers and Will Graham, all of whom went in the first round.

Patterson’s class was similar – joined in the Suns’ fold by Zeke Uwland, Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall in the first round.

But for now, the club is ready to embrace its new crop of talents, with Uwland in particular catching the eye of fans for what he could become.

The teenager endured a restricted year in the build-up to his second pick drafting, suffering a stress fracture in his back which kept him sidelined for six months.

But he was quick to make an impression upon his comeback in the VFL, averaging 16.5 disposals a game across four outings. However, he insisted his focus was not simply on “personal performance”.

Zeke Uwland was one of a number of academy players selected high in the draft.

“I’ve had a unique 12 months for a draftee, I experienced my fair share of injuries with a six-month stress fracture, but it had lots of benefits,” Uwland told this masthead, having appeared in the documentary Chasing the Dream.

“I got a lot of athletic development and worked on my strength and conditioning, I really fine-tuned my motor control and movements, and away from the game I did my first year of study.

“In the first couple of games I was OK, I didn’t set the world on fire, but … that’s something I want to focus on, playing a role because that gets you games at the highest level.

“An ideal 2026 would look like playing as many games as possible at the AFL level, but more importantly, it’s understanding the environment and becoming comfortable at that level.

“I want to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can.”

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