Dangerfield ready for showdown with fiercest rivals
HAVING cut his teeth in the white-hot intensity of SA Showdowns, milestone man Patrick Dangerfield took some time to appreciate the depth of feeling that exists between Geelong and Hawthorn.
Now in his fifth year in the blue and white hoops, the 2016 Brownlow medallist grasps the significance of one of the AFL’s great modern-day rivalries.
Since the Hawks upset the rampaging Cats in the 2008 Grand Final, matches between the clubs have taken on an extra edge.
It will be the case again tonight, even if the venue and the (lack of) crowd will be very different than usual.
Hawthorn will play at GMHBA Stadium for the first time since Round 3, 2006.
“They’ve got a great record down there and we haven’t played there for such a long period of time,” Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said. seasons and only five in the past nine years.
“I didn’t know that he was quite this good and his durability surprised me a bit,” Scott said. “There was no reason to think he wasn’t durable but he's genuinely tough too.”
The coach’s concern with the Selwood situation was more about how the chemistry would work having two big dogs in the same kennel, so to speak.
“The thing I admired was there was a bit of a risk when he came in, Joel Selwood being the captain and highest paid player and that the chemistry might not be there,” Scott said.
“I knew Joel would handle it
“In that time, with new grandstands and everything being built and developed by the Geelong club, even the dimensions of the ground have changed a little bit since we last played there.
“So we go down there with our eyes wide open — we know how strong a challenge it’s going to be.
“We need to play somewhere near our very, very best.”
Gary Ablett is the only player tonight remaining from that 2006 game. He was 21, playing game 82.
If the Hawks are to spring an upset, finding a way to limit the output of Dangerfield will be crucial. because I knew him so well but I didn't know Patty as well.
“Without much guidance from me, Patty just threw his whole being behind the captain and developed a really good relationship really quickly.
“I had some concerns as it wouldn't be the first time that there is kind of a bit of professional jealousy between the incumbent and the new guy.
“But everything was about getting behind Joel, he’s the leader, let's support him.”
Scott is predicting Dangerfield will be still playing at an elite standard at 35.
“He enjoys the work and he just loves footy as well,” he
Having kicked off his AFL career with 154 matches for Adelaide, the lifelong Cats fan reaches the 250-game milestone against the club’s biggest rivals.
“Playing for a different club you just don’t understand that history and rivalry as much as when you are playing those games and you feel that emotion and atmosphere from the crowd, which we obviously won’t get tomorrow night,” the 30-year-old Dangerfield said yesterday.
“But I certainly understand it now.
“It’s a great rivalry and I think that’s one of the really healthy parts of our competition, that there are so many resaid. “One of the biggest issues is you just get jaded with the game the longer you go on and it wears you down.
“But with Patty (it’s) his willingness for the work and his resilience in the way he lives his life.
“I think he will be able to put up with it more than most.”
DANGERFIELD believes he's currently in the sweet spot of his career.
“When I first started playing I had a junior coach, Leon Harris, who has done some recruiting at the Brisbane Lions of late. His philosophy was, ‘You haven’t made it until ally good rivalries within the game. We add to that as a club and so does Hawthorn.
“We want to make sure it’s really combative and we both put on a good show tomorrow night.”
The Cats are in much better shape than for Round 1 way back in March, when they lost by 32 points to GWS with prime movers Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan both underdone after interrupted pre-season campaigns.
The Hawks defeated the Brisbane Lions by 28 points in their season opener but will be without vice-captain Jaeger O’Meara (facial fracture) tonight.