Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron predicts injury-plagued forward Jon Pattons best is yet to come after an uncommonly slow path to his 50th AFL game.Patton will attain the milestone on Saturday against Gold Coast, but two knee reconstructions and a patella tendon injury have stalled his passage to the landmark.It has taken the 2011 No.1 draft pick almost five seasons and he has played in under half of the Giants first 106 games.It has been a long journey for him, Cameron said.Hes started to create a bit more consistency in his game of footy after being out for so long.Talls naturally take a little bit longer than most players, but hes had a number of setbacks the last four and a half, five years.But his persistence; I reckoned hes learnt a lot about going through a rehab program and what footy means to him.Does he want to go the extra yard? Can he push himself through to actually get to the ultimate and thats playing AFL footy let alone playing 50 games, so its a fine achievement from Jon.We look forward to seeing him progress week after week and hes an integral part of the lineup right now and he knows that every week he rolls out, hes thankful that he can play footy again.Id say the best is yet to come, I absolutely think so.Hes only five years in, really hes probably only two years in because of the injuries hes sustained.But I think hes really starting to grasp what AFL footy is about week in week out and rocking up to play, so hes got a lot of work to do still, but were definitely happy that hes on the right track.Patton is currently riding a career-best streak of 17 consecutive games.He has kicked 19 goals this season, putting him in joint fifth position at the club in that category.Cameron values Pattonss versatility.He can go down and play key back and also a little bit on the weekend he played in the ruck as well, Cameron said.He has also paid tribute to the increasing toughness of ruckman-forward Rory Lobb, who is enjoying a breakout season.Lobb is working hard to overcome a knee injury and play this weekend.He was just a stick figure when he first arrived, Cameron said of Lobb.Hes worked extremely hard to put on some weight and some muscle.But his hardness through the last 18 months has actually gone through the roof.Hes only a third-year player and sometimes weve got to pinch ourselves to say his development has probably exceeded expectations. Hydro Flask Heureka . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Hydro Flask Termoska . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http://www.hydroflasklahev.cz/ . PAUL, Minn. Hydro Flask Lahev . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Hydro Flask Lilac . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. MILWAUKEE -- Coach Steve Wojciechowski looks at his deep roster at Marquette and sees strength in numbers.Depth and up-tempo basketball will have to make up for a lack of height for the Golden Eagles this season.One-and-done forward Henry Ellenson is now in the NBA. The rebounding and defensive slack must be picked up by a rotation that could go 11 players deep.Were going to have to try to do some things defensively in terms of maybe extending the floor, being disruptive on the defensive end of the ball, Wojciechowski said. In order to do that ... we need to have fresh bodies out there to maintain a certain pace of play, a certain energy level from your group.The 6-foot-11 Ellenson averaged team-highs of 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds a game. He was a focal point of the offense, and combined with 6-11 center Luke Fischer to give Marquette two rim-protectors.Ellenson is now with the Detroit Pistons, but Fischer is back for his senior season, ready to anchor the middle.After 6-10 sophomore Matt Heldt, a backup center, the roster is filled with guards and swingmen. Six-foot-7 freshman Sam Hauser is the next tallest player on the roster.Marquette finished 20-13 (8-10 Big East) last season but missed the NCAA Tournament. Theyll miss Ellenson, but can compensate in other areas.It goes both ways. Were going to miss him for his rebounding, senior guard Jajuan Johnson said. But now the ball is going to get moved a little bit more. He will be missed, surely.Marquette was picked to finish in the Big East in the preseason coaches poll. Other notes on the Golden Eagles, who open their season on Friday against Vanderbilt in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Maryland:BIG LUKEFischer (12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) is getting ready to run more with all the guards on the roster. Hell need to play more than the 28.2 minutes a game that he averaged last season and stay out of foul trouble.Obviously, we have to be in good shape, running-wise, Fischer said.ddddddddddddWell be able to push the ball up really fast. I think that plays to our advantage, being smaller than most teams.LITTLE GUYSAfter Fischer, the rest of the starting lineup in the preseason game against Rockhurst last week featured Johnson, along with guards Markus Howard, Katin Reinhardt and Haanif Cheatham. Howard, 5-foot-11 freshman, played on the under-17 team for USA Basketball this summer.Six players off the bench played at least 16 minutes against Rockhurst.Were going to have a lot of lineups that mix four perimeter guys with one post guy, Wojciechowski said. In todays day and age in college basketball, when you can do that, it can work to your advantage.THE `NOVA WAYTheres a model in the Big East for winning with a small lineup after Villanova won the NCAA title. The Golden Eagles hope to be able to get to that level one day, though the Wildcats at least provide a blueprint.The great thing we will be able to do is pressure guard Traci Carter said. Were going to be able to pressure a lot. Fun.COUNTING ON CHEATHAMEllensons NBA potential overshadowed Cheathams solid freshman campaign last season. The 6-foot-5 guard (11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists) started all 33 games, with turnovers being his biggest problem. Wojciechowski hopes Cheatham can continue to play aggressively while taking better care of the ball.STEADY REINHARDTThe 6-6 guard will provide experience and outside shooting after coming to Marquette as a graduate transfer. As a junior, Reinhardt averaged 11.4 points at Southern California last season. He is a career 36.9 percent shooter from the 3-point arc.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '
