Jack Patterson has you could say taken the road less travelled to get his footy fix in 2020.
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When the Group 4 season was cancelled, while several of his North Tamworth Bears team-mates linked up with the Tamworth Magpies, Patterson took a completely foreign option - joining the Tamworth Swans.
"I just wanted something different," he said.
It has certainly been that.
Before this season league was all the 20-year old had ever really known. He hadn't even watched a game of AFL on television, let alone played one.
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"Honestly I've never paid attention to it at all, never watched it, never really been interested before this year," he said.
It has been a pretty steep learning curve too with Patterson not having the benefit of the pre-season.
"I only had probably two or three weeks to get my head around the game, learn the rules, learn the positions before the season started so there was a lot to take in in about the fortnight before we played," he said.
That first game was, in his words "challenging".
"I think I was still thinking I was playing league so I was trying to tackle everyone and I got a few penalties against me," he reflected.
Playing centre half-forward, he is starting to feel more comfortable. He has even kicked his first swag, booting five goals two weeks ago against the Moree Suns.
"The coaches and the boys that have been there for a while have put a lot of time into my game to get me to where I am because I didn't have long to learn it all," Patterson said.
"I'm still picking up a few things."
Swans coach Paul Kelly said Patterson has fitted in really well at the club and is coming along well.
"Every game he seems to get better and better, and his knowledge of the game gets better," he said.
For Patterson the challenge of "trying to learn something that you've never really had an interest in" has been one of the most enjoyable things about the season.
"You get used to doing one thing and trying to get good at that. Trying to pick something up from the start where you've got no skills in it, it's a challenge but definitely enjoyable," he said.
This year would have been the front-rower's fourth with the all-conquering Bears side, and while it was disappointing to have the season called off, he said said he has "had a great year at the Swans nonetheless".
And he could yet have a grand final to look forward to with the Swans keeping their top two hopes alive with a 12.10-82 to 9.12-66 win over the New England Nomads in Armidale on Saturday.
It saw them leapfrog the Nomads and Inverell Saints into second with the three fighting out for the remaining spot in the decider. Gunnedah look to have one spot sewn up.
The Swans led virtually from the outset but couldn't shake the Nomads off, the home side getting back within just a couple of points at one stage in the final quarter.
"The last 10 minutes of the game was the best footy we played," Kelly said.
"We had to control the footy and move it around."
They were rushing rush a lot, but they slowed it down in that last period and found the target.
Kaleb Crowhurst was a great target for them all day kicking eight goals while Kim Farrell booted three and Michael Parker one.
