It took an hour-long bus trip and a four-hour flight to Darwin to deliver a Gold Coast SUNS Indigenous guernsey to former player Liam Patrick, but that’s nothing compared to what the ‘Lajamanu Lightning Bolt’ goes through every week just to play footy.

Patrick was picked up as a zone selection by the GC SUNS and turned out for the club in its VFL season in 2010, before three years in the AFL where he played 13 games at the top level.

When deciding upon who should receive some of the limited-edition guernseys from the Indigenous Round, the SUNS’ Indigenous players were keen to nominate their former teammate as a recipient.

So when the reserves headed to the Territory for NEAFL clash with the NT Thunder, coach Josh Fraser had the honour of handing over one of the jumpers to the man also known as ‘The Flash’ in between the teams’ training sessions. That was after Patrick had completed his weekly nine-hour drive from the township of Lajamanu to run around with Darwin-based Thunder.

“I don’t know how much I can thank the club,” Patrick said.

“I always wanted one of these from the club to keep as a memory.

“It means a lot to me.

“It’s pretty good. To represent the club and the club representing towards our people, as well. Sharing that good knowledge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.”

This year, Patrick has returned to his home town – almost 900km from Darwin – where he works as its regional development manager with AFL NT. He makes the long haul to the capital for training on a Friday, then drives home straight after the game on a Saturday.

“I try to make it as quick as possible to get back home and have my chance to relax.

“Kids really, really look up to me now. Whatever they want to share with me with sports, any type of sports, especially with footy.

“(There’s a) really good connection between me and the community now. I love doing that; helping out with what the young ones need with footy stuff.”

Despite his busy schedule, Patrick still manages to catch the odd SUNS game on TV.

“I think they’re doing so good, so far.

“Really good how they’ve developed and getting stuff organised and developing really good.”

Taking hold of the Indigenous guernsey was special for the former SUN, but not quite as special as the birth of his third child a week before. Patrick and his partner, Loretta, celebrated the arrival of a baby girl named Jane.