Patrick Dangerfield is, without doubt, one of the best players I’ve seen when at his bullocking and speedy best.
His resume speaks for itself: eight-time All Australian, three-time Geelong best and fairest, an Adelaide best and fairest, and to top it all off, a Brownlow Medallist.
Over the last decade, Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, and Nat Fyfe have occupied the conversation that surrounds who the best player in the competition was. Regardless of which one you thought was the best player, it speaks volumes of how good those three are to be in the conversation.
Dangerfield’s best was as chaotic and as courageous as any player I have ever seen. Nobody in the history of the game of Australian rules football attacked the ball harder than the man they call ‘Danger’.
It’s probably the perfect nickname for the boy from Moggs Creek, because when he beelines a contest, everyone is in danger, including himself.
His Brownlow Medal season of 2016 had to be seen to be believed. He ranked first in in total inside 50s per game, third in total disposals per game, first in total centre clearances, third in score involvements per game, and first in metres gained per game.
Fast forward to 2022, and Dangerfield’s drop-off over the last three years has been stark, whether it be due to injuries or just age.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
In 2019, Dangerfield was arguably one of the best players in the game still, but since then, the most disposals he has averaged is 23 which was last season. He isn’t hitting the scoreboard like he was when at the peak of his career, and ultimately at some stages, he has been somewhat of a liability defensively throughout the last three seasons.
However, this season has seen glimpses of the old Dangerfield. He has been managed much better this season than in seasons previous, only playing the 13 games out of a possible 20, which is a blessing the Cats could afford to do due to them being on top of the ladder.
Dangerfield has played the last four games in the run home into September and two of them have been match-winning performances.
In Round 17 against the Demons, the reigning premiers, in what was a top-of-the-table clash, Dangerfield was arguably the best afield. Thirty-one disposals, nine clearances, eight inside 50s, and four behinds. If he kicks straight, it’s one of the best games from a player we would have seen all season.
What was more impressive though – maybe not on the stat sheet, but through pure leadership and determination, was last week against the Dogs.
With the Cats being four goals down and under immense pressure in the first term, it was Dangerfield who stemmed the flow and then countered in a way only Geelong can. Seven clearances and six inside 50s yet again got his team back into the game.
Which brings me to the whole point of this article: Patrick Dangerfield has seven games to prove himself as an immortal and an all-time great of this sport.
The man has won everything there is to win in the game, bar that elusive premiership. And if there’s one criticism of Dangerfield, it is his ability to win finals off his own boot like he does in the home-and-away season.
In a football world where it seems like everything is looking up for the Cats and Dangerfield, it seems like their dynasty is to win a premiership and to top off the most consistently successful era the game has ever seen. With no Hawthorn and no Richmond to compete against, the time is now for the Cats.
Seven games, Danger, and you win and get respected the way you wanted to when you first walked out onto a ground as an Adelaide Crow. It’s up to you and your two old mates in Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I think so. Ablett, Buddy and Harvey have 8 too. Might be some others, not 100%.
Windrince
Roar Rookie
Equal record right?
Ace
Roar Rookie
Unless you are taking the p.ss you have the wrong type of player We were talking about on-ballers not second rate centre half forwards
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Oliver would kick straighter :laughing:
1dawg
Roar Rookie
Earl Spalding was better than both Danger and Dusty. Better haircut also.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
He’s the equal but let’s not talk about GF’s :laughing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Lesser players went and weren’t as good as him. I make valid points, debatable, but valid nonetheless.
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
Nah - just yanking your chain Rowdy. McIntosh was a top player but a pity he never tested himself at the higher level, Crows could have used him in that era. I know he played rep footy (SoO) and did very well but until a player has been tested week-in week-out at the top standard it will always be a stretch to compare him with one of the best players of their generation (Danger). Also there's this tendency to elevate McIntosh as if he certainly would have been a champion of the AFL - but because he never put himself forward we'll never know.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
He’d have to do it for another 10 years to be close to Danger. 8 x AA for Danger. That’s nuts.
1dawg
Roar Rookie
Danger is a poor man's Dusty?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
3 Fos Williams medals in SOO? Just about all winners were in the VFL/AFL but not Macca. So he wasn't even sharpened by the better standard, of the AFL, yet won 3!!! Only Bradley and Jarman are ahead of him with 4. From memory, in two of the years of SOO competition, he was the only non-AFL player to play SOO with every other Victorian, West Australian and South Australian playing in the AFL ------- Do you not remember him smashing packs, taking the ball and delivering it with exquisite skills? ------ Now l know it's not "Wisden's" but Wiki name him as the best Australian Football player outside of the AFL in the AFL Era. Fozzies, Magarey's, flags attest to this.
Windrince
Roar Rookie
Remember that day when Danger kicked 5.6 against the Hawks after injuring his foot in the first term? Oliver could never do that.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Except El diablo Oliver does not go into the full forward role to haul in freakish marks and kick vital goals a la Danger. When he wanted a rest he went back on ball to shove it down someone else's throat Oliver is , I grant, a good breakaway on baller. And could win a Brownlow Just not polished enough to say he will become better than Danger
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
McIntosh wasn’t up to AFL standard – he could have played sure, but not dominated as he did in the SANFL – he wisely sat out the formation of the Crows and whinged from the sidelines at Norwood to keep the ‘legend’ intact.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I like Paddy, he's an exceptionally strong player. And the real cream on the cake with Macca was his ability to win the ball tough and then, freakishly, dispose the ball beautifully and accurately. Either side, hand or foot.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
A touch of hyper bowl from our esteemed author, W Cornhill. To be fair he did specify ball.
ElDiablo14
Guest
Oliver ahead of him already. Premiership player, young and potentially multiple winner of the Coaches award and I can see at least one Brownlow for him in the future.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I agree. Danger attacks the ball with more ferocity than any player I’ve seen. That’s not his greatest strength though. He burst from packs, allowing the lines that layer a contest 30 metres out to be broken. It’s tough to defend against. He may not be a great kick, but he’s got the heart of a lion. Today, I can see exactly what Scott wants from him. He’s a pinch hitter. When the going gets tough, and contested ball is needed, in steps Danger. The Cats no longer require pure dominance of contested ball to win. That’s their biggest game style change. However, it’s still critically important at times. Danger has helped the Cats arrest momentum on numerous occasions, and I can see him doing it again should a Tigers like effort overrun them in the Finals. No better way to wrestle back momentum than at the coalface.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
“Dangerfield’s best was as chaotic and as courageous as any player I have ever seen. Nobody in the history of the game of Australian rules football attacked the ball harder than the man they call ‘Danger’.” ——- In other news Garry McIntosh would’ve split, molecularly, Danger had they played in the same era.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Great player who has led the Cats renaissance since 2016. If I have one gripe it’s how he appeared to change the trajectory of Marc Murphys career and Carlton’s 2012 season in one single blow. :unhappy: