Affectionately known as the "Swamp Fox", Patterson was a premiership ruckman with the Richmond Football Club in 1967, and also captain/coach of the 1972 Australian Champions, the North Adelaide Football Club.
Patterson was known affectionately as the "Swamp Fox" and played for the Richmond Football Club as a premiership ruckman in 1967. He also held leadership roles with the 1972 Australian Champions team, North Adelaide Football Club.