After the torrid reception Ryan Griffen received playing for Greater Western Sydney for the first time against his old side last Saturday, and the comparatively tame experience Joel Patfull is expecting against his former team this Sunday, there was probably a bit of niggle, too.

"It was pretty hostile down there," Patfull says of the Western Bulldogs' Etihad Stadium crowd, which Griffen knew was going to give him a hard time.

"The way the day panned out didn't really help him either. The crowd got louder and louder as the game went on and it was a bit of an experience for him. He's glad it's over now. And I'm a little bit glad that, for me, it's in Sydney with a home crowd."

Better circumstances around his departure and playing in front of a supportive home crowd will make things much smoother. Yet, playing against a club where you spent nine years, as Patfull did, is not easy. Players spend an enormous amount of time at football clubs and develop close friendships. For Patfull, too, there is the added factor that Brisbane gave him a second chance after he had been let go by Port Adelaide.

"I'm trying my best to think of it as another game but I'm probably thinking about it a little bit more than that," he said.

"I spent a lot of time there, nine years, and have really good friends at the club, friendships that will probably last a lifetime, even with people behind the scenes, which the public doesn't see. It is obviously a strange experience to be playing against them. It's a different sort of experience. But it's nothing I can't handle."

Another factor likely to make Patfull's encounter with the ex easier than Griffen's might be the fact that many of his former teammates are sidelined, though one of his good friends Jack Redden, along with Pearce Hanley, could be back for the clash. The Lions are really struggling with injuries. In their 22-point defeat to St Kilda, captain Tom Rockliff fractured three ribs, Claye Beams did the medial ligament in his knee and Jed Adcock tore a calf muscle.

"I know from having been there that they'll be coming down expecting to put in a really good contest and looking for a win," Patfull said. "I wouldn't expect anything less. They've been playing some pretty good footy, too, the last few weeks. Even though they've got so many injuries they'll still put together a really good team and we're expecting a strong contest."

Like his housemate, Patfull will always feel fondly for his former club.

"I'll always be thankful to them for looking after me up there and starting my career," he said. "A lot has changed over the years and it was time to move on."