Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield is “putting on a clinic” at the MCG, with his bravery on display just seconds into the preliminary final against Brisbane.
Chasing an elusive premiership, the Cats veteran went back with the flight in the opening stages of the final and kicked the first goal of the contest.
He had his second goal – off just one step from 45 metres, before the quarter was out.
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“He started in a blaze of glory – kicked two goals in the first quarter,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.
“He looks like a man on a mission, who needs to be there on the last day in September.”
“He’s a leader, to go back, take the courageous mark. There was no body contact in the end – but he didn’t know that,” Nick Riewoldt added.
“That was a big moment for Patrick just to settle the nerves of at the ground.
“He set the tone early – he’s looked a force again, he’s exploded away from stoppage.”
Fox Footy’s Nathan Buckley was full of praise for Geelong’s management of the veteran to get him in peak condition at the right time of the year.
“This is what happens when you are well managed,” Buckley said.
“He has been lightly raced through season in 2022.
“He’s exploding and ready to go at that right time, as is (veteran teammate) Joel Selwood. The two of them, they are definitely not playing 80-85 per cent like they have before – it’d be mid 60s, early 70s, they are getting maximum input from both of them. And they are bringing their strengths to the table in a more dynamic fashion than we’ve seen in a while.”
Commentator James Brayshaw said “you can’t start better” than the 32-year-old did as he went back with the flight to take a mark inside 50.
He went back and calmly slotted the goal with just Geelong’s second disposal of the match.
“Gee, that’s was brave running back with the flight,” commentator Daisy Pearce said.
“Probably got good voice from (teammate) Isaac Smith that he had a clean run at it, but never any guarantees that a forward’s not coming the other way.”
When Dangerfield got on the end of some clever work by Cam Guthrie, who tapped the ball over his head to his teammate, the star Cat fired off one step.
“Oh he’s on! He’s on the Danger! It looked like he was on from the first second,” Brayshaw praised.
“Started on the ground, started in the middle, second goal already.
“He’s been enormous.”
Dangerfield racked up nine touches – five of those contested at 71 per cent efficiency, two marks, two clearances, three score involvements and 217m gained to go with those two goals.
“It was a dominant quarter for Geelong really,” Riewoldt said.
“I’d be getting someone a little closer to Paddy in the second half,” commentator Luke Hodge said.
Dangerfield spoke just last month about how he wouldn’t let his ambitions for a premiership define his career.
“I think it’s the finishing piece if you will, but I don’t think it necessarily defines players,” Dangerfield said.
“It’s what we all play for, but there’s so much of our game that you take enjoyment from, not just the final game in September.
“Clearly that would be a wonderful thing to achieve, and we’ve given ourselves a shot this year. We’re in a good position.
“But there’s so much enjoyment externally to just that.”
