Not just me and Danger
Selwood praises midfield
DANGERWOOD is dead. That is, if it ever lived. So says Geelong captain Joel Selwood, one half of the Cats’ feared one-two midfield punch along with Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield.
To opposition teams and AFL fans, Dangerwood presents the biggest midfield challenge in the league.
It is to be feared and stopped at all costs.
To Selwood, the moniker is a slight on other Geelong midfielders.
“It’s so unfair. They’re better players than people give them credit for,” he said.
“We won 17 games last year and it’s not just off the back of two players. We think they should get more respect.”
When the Cats take to the field in Round 1 against Fremantle, their midfield could look very different to last year’s opener with Hawthorn.
Josh Caddy has departed and Cam Guthrie’s calf niggle could extend to Round 1.
Sam Menegola will surely resume his role off the back of his hot streak at the back half of 2016, with others to run through the middle.
“We expect Sam to grow again. He’s a young kid who had his first taste of footy last year,” he said.
“Darcy Lang’s been doing a bit of time through the midfield and we expect Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie and Mark Blicavs to keep getting better and better.”
As for Dangerfield, could the match with Hawthorn have revealed a new role?
For the first time, the 26year-old handballed twice as often as he kicked it.
Considering he led the league in metres gained last season, his effort was a radical departure from last season.
There is a school of thought that suggests Geelong need to change Dangerfield’s role to claim the premiership, but Selwood is not buying it.
“The key for him is winning the ball and he did that exceptionally well (against Hawthorn). I don’t think there will be too much change,” he said.
While there is excitement around Geelong’s opener, Selwood admitted to a tinge of sadness around its timing.
The Formula One-mad midfielder, an ambassador for the Australian Grand Prix, will miss this year’s race after the Cats were sent to Fremantle for Round 1.
“I’m going to be out there just as the race starts. I’ll get it taped to watch it on the flight home,” he said.
“It’d be great to see Dan (Ricciardo) on the podium. I love the shooey, so I want him drinking on that podium this year.”