Congratulations to former Eltham junior Patrick Lipinski who was selected by the Western Bulldogs in the 2016 AFL Draft late last week.
Lipinski was drafted by premier the Western Bulldogs – the club he grew up barracking for – with pick No. 28.
The 18-year-old had a standout season with the Northern Knights and was long considered the TAC Cup side’s best draft chance.
Lipinski featured among the Knights’ best players in nine of his 12 matches, overcoming a mid-season hand injury that forced him to miss the AFL Under-18 National Championship.
Speaking to NFL.org.au earlier this year, Northern Knights’ Talent Manager Rhy Gieshcen likened Lipinski to Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.
“I see him as the sort of Scott Pendlebury type player, that’s a bit of a stretch as Pendlebury’s one of the all-time greats at Collingwood, (but) with his basketball background he’s a really good size and shape,” Gieshcen said.
“He’s 187cm, he can play as that smart half-forward as a third tall but he can also go into the midfield.
“When he’s got the football in his hand he’s really composed. Just like Pendlebury, the game slows down a bit. That’s the sort of player we liken him to, that really clean, classy inside mid who makes really good decisions.”
Lipinski began his football career with Montmorency, before moving to Eltham in 2012.
He enjoyed a standout 2015 season for the Panthers, where he led the Under-17 Blue goal kicking with 51 majors in 12 matches.
Lipinski joins fellow Eltham product Marcus Bontempelli at Whitten Oval.
Bontempelli has been a revelation in three years with the Bulldogs and this season claimed the club’s best and fairest in its drought-breaking premiership campaign.
As well as Patrick and Marcus at the Bulldogs, Tthe Panthers have David Zaharakis (Essendon) Josh Caddy and Nick Vlastuin (both Richmond) and Daniel Currie (Gold Coast) on AFL Senior lists, and add in a coach as well with Adam Simpson senior coach at West Coast.
Thanks to nfl.org.au for content in this post
