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Drafted at pick 10 in the 2007 national draft, Patrick Dangerfield has since racked up an impressive resume – playing 154 games and booting 163 goals.
Dangerfield has established himself as an elite midfielder of the competition named in the All Australian team on three occasions, a club best and fairest for the Adelaide as well countless top 10 finishes in the Brownlow Medal voting.
At the age of 25 and on the verge of beginning the second phase of his career at Geelong, has Dangerfield’s career already peaked?
Below I analyse Dangerfield’s career season by season with comparisons to Chris Judd and Gary Ablett.
Dangerfield played just two games in 2008 with his career officially starting in 2009. He played 21 games averaging 13 disposals, 2.2 tackles and an impressive one goal a game in his first full season of league football. In 2002 Chris Judd played 22 games in his debut season, averaging 15 disposals, 2.8 tackles and 1 goal a game.
2010 saw Dangerfield rack up 19 games, increasing his average disposals to 15.6, averaging almost three clearances, 3 inside 50s and 1.3 goals a game and the age of 20. Meanwhile, Chris Judd took his blistering young career to the next level in 2003 playing every game averaging over 18 possessions, 1.2 goals, 3.2 tackles and an astonishing 5.2 clearances.
Dangerfield’s durability was highlighted in 2011 where he played all 22 games and increased his average disposals to 17 while also gathering over 10 contested possessions per game as well as exemplifying his ruthless attack on the football with 3.2 tackles a game, topping it off with a boot through the big sticks once a week.
2005 saw a 21-year-old Gary Ablett also show signs of durability and consistency. He played every game for the season at an average of 18 touches per game added with 3.5 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s, 8.6 contested disposals and producing a quality 1.2 goals a game. The stats attest that Dangerfield wasn’t far off the best of this generation at the same age and experience.
By far Dangerfield’s breakout season came in 2012 where he announced himself as a bona fide megastar of the competition. Dangerfield’s consistency and knack of not missing games (that I mentioned earlier) continued, with him playing all of Adelaide’s 25 matches including three finals, revealing his explosive capabilities of damaging opponents with his pace, contested style of attack and destructive abilities around goal proved to be a crucial part of his club’s success back in 2012.
Smashing his season averages, Dangerfield took his career to new heights averaging a whopping 26.6 disposals per game, three tackles, 5.5 inside 50s, 6.5 clearances and an astounding 16 contested possessions up an average of six from the previous season. The 22-year-old was crowned with his first All Australian honour and collected 23 Brownlow votes.
By the time 2006 rolled around 22-year-old Chris Judd had become a premiership captain, Brownlow medalist, Norm Smith, AFLPA MVP winner and dual All Australian member averaging 26 disposals per game, 4.8 tackles and 6.1 clearances. Whereas a 22 year old Gary Ablett was still 1 year short of his breakout season in 2006 averaging 16.8 possessions, 3 tackles, 3.3 inside 50’s and over 1 and a half sausage rolls per game.
Dangerfield backed up his breakout season with another blistering year in 2013 although slightly down on statistics due to a shoulder injury that saw watch from the sidelines for two games.
Averaging 23 disposals, 5.5 clearances, and 13.7 contested possession, Dangerfield managed to find the goals the most in his whole career with 31 goals exemplifying his versatility in a midfielder, forward role, as well as finishing fourth in the Brownlow with 22 votes and another All Australian honour. In 2007, a 23-year-old Chris Judd was aggravated with a chronic groin injury that caused his strong early season form to drop off in the second half of the season. On the other hand, Gary Ablett broke-out into the another stratosphere becoming an elite of the competition playing all 25 games, with averages of 26.6 disposals, 3.4 tackles, 5.8 inside 50’s, 4 clearances, 10 contested possessions, 30 goals. Gary Ablett jr had knocked it out of the park crowned with his first All Australian honour, Best and Fairest, AFLPA MVP and played an immense role in the Cat’s first flag in 44 years.
In 2014, Dangerfield yet again played every game, and while battling injuries and soreness he averaged 25 disposals, led the completion in contested possession with 341 for the season, and collected 21 Brownlow votes. At 24 years Gary Ablett backed up his breakthrough season averaging 29 disposals while Chris Judd changed clubs something Dangerfield will endure in 2016. Judd was awarded captain of Carlton missing just 1 game and named All Australian captain.
As we arrive at 2015, Dangerfield displayed his fourth consecutive season of dominance and the peak of his career to date. Dangerfield played 23 out of 24 games averaging 27 disposals, a career high 5.4 tackles per game, a career high for clearances 7.1 per game, averaging 15 contested possession winning his first club best and fairest and third All Australian honour.
At the same stage of their careers Judd averaged 26.4 disposals, 4.3 tackles, 5.4 clearances and 11 contested possession in 2009. Conversely, Ablett had his best season and was at the peak of his powers averaging a phenomenal 33 disposals, 4.1 tackles, 4.8 clearances, and 13.4 in contest possession. The little master also won his first Brownlow medal, second AFLPA MVP, best and fairest and premiership further establishing himself as one of the best midfielders of all time.
Between seasons 2010-2015, Ablett has played 106 games, booted 150 goals with an astonishing average of 31.2 disposals per game, 5.1 tackles, 5 inside 50’s, 6.3 clearances, and 14.6 contested possessions, the majority in a depleted Gold Coast outfit. During this time, Ablett racked up his second Brownlow medal, multiple All Australian honours, AFLPA MVP awards and cemented himself as one of the most consistent, reliable and all round greats of the game.
During 2010-2015, Judd played 101 games, kicked 63 goals and averaged 24.2 disposals, 4.4 tackles, 4.4 inside 50’s, 6 clearances, and 11 contested possessions. Judd battled nagging injuries in the latter years of his career but ultimately furthered his dominance with his second Brownlow medal, several All Australian awards, AFLPA MVP and club best and fairest’s, indicating his position alongside Ablett as the greats of the modern generation.
In the second phase of his career, Dangerfield much like Ablett and Judd will face the battle of continuing a career of dominance under a second home, and a different team environment. Turning 26 early next season Dangerfield has age on his side and a strong foundation at the Cattery to take his career to higher heights. Like Ablett and Judd proved, Danger can very well have more to offer to his incredible career in the form of a Brownlow medal and Premiership aspirations.
Ultimately time will tell the tale if Dangerfield has truly peaked or not, if he can stay fit, which he has proven in the past, Football fans and especially Geelong fans will be excited for the future, if his round 9 2015 battle against Nat Fyfe was any indication…
What are your thoughts? Have we seen the best of Patrick Dangerfield or can he establish himself as the game’s greats at Geelong?
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