Greater Western Sydney welfare manager Craig Lambert is uniquely well placed to make an informed comparison between Jonathon Patton and Jonathan Brown.

Lambert ended his AFL playing career with Brisbane in 2000, Brown’s first season at the club he would win three premierships with.

He stepped straight into the Lions’ coaching box, then welfare department as Brown developed into one of the league’s premier power forwards.

The Brisbane skipper’s status over the past decade means plenty of teenage forwards have been viewed through a Brown prism ahead of drafts, with last year’s No.1 pick Patton the latest.

Patton finds such comparisons humbling, but Lambert – now guiding GWS’s young list – doesn’t see them as entirely unfounded.

“I’ve heard the comparisons a lot. They’re both fantastic marks, they’re both courageous,” said Lambert after Patton’s debut against Richmond.

“They’re both very serious about their footy. They’re both very humble people.”

The 19-year-old kicked a goal and clutched three contested marks against the Tigers.

“That mark he took out on the wing in the wet – it was right near me and it just went clunk. The class players do that,” Lambert said.

“To see him come out against a quality outfit like Richmond and take those contested marks – it was exciting for our footy club.”

It’s fair to say Patton looked more settled than Brown did on debut, when he laid one tackle and failed to get a kick.

But ultimately Patton’s progression will take time, especially after pre-season knee surgery.

And much like his side, patience will be key.

“We like what we saw (against Richmond) and there’s a lot more development – with fitness and skill acquisition and all that,” Lambert said.

“But the one great quality that he has – like all the great players – is that he’s highly driven.”

One of Patton’s biggest assets is his size – at 197cm and 102kg he’s a monster and genuinely a big man for his age.

“You’d be surprised, Jonathan Brown when he first got to Brisbane was a lot skinnier than what he ended up,” Lambert said.

“Jonathon Patton is a lot bigger early on, but they’re both highly driven individuals that want to be the best.”

He may boast a big body, but Patton doesn’t have a big head.

“We talk about their (young Giants) talent but what Stephen Silvagni and (Graeme) `Gubby’ Allen and the recruiters have done is get quality kids,” Lambert said.

“They buy into our club’s culture and are really humble.”