DANGER INJURY SHOCK
SATURDAY
GEELONG superstar Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for an extended period after undergoing an ankle operation on Wednesday night.
The Cats opted to send Dangerfield for surgery to repair his syndesmosis injury and said he would be out “indefinitely”.
“Scans revealed a syndesmosis injury, and it was felt the best course of action was for Dangerfield to undergo surgery,” the club said. “Dangerfield will be out of action indefinitely, with his rehabilitation and recovery from the injury determining his return to play.”
Dangerfield, 31, saw three specialists, including taking a trip to Sydney on Tuesday, before going under the knife late on Wednesday.
The injury threatened to hamper Dangerfield all season if he didn’t have surgery.
The eight-time All-Australian hurt his ankle late in the win over North Melbourne on Sunday and scans the next day showed the injury was worse than first expected.
The Cats, who have made an unconvincing start to the season, have also been without boom recruit Jeremy Cameron for the first five weeks of the season due to a second hamstring problem.
While Cats coach Chris Scott said Cameron would definitely take on West Coast on Saturday, the forward still has one more hurdle to jump to prove his fitness on Thursday and Friday.
Cameron’s return would be a massive boost to the forward line but the Cats will be cautious not to risk a third hamstring blow.
Dangerfield’s absence could open the door for speedster Jordan Clark to return to the team after he was made the medical sub but did not enter the field against the Roos.
The eighth-placed Cats are under pressure to lift a gear against the Eagles on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium after starting their season 3-2 with a percentage of 99.7.
In particular, it has been a tough start for Geelong’s new medical and strength and conditioning department, which was overhauled over summer to fit under the AFL’s new football department soft cap.
The Cats appointed former Adelaide and North Melbourne physio Steve Saunders as part of significant changes.
Scott’s men have lost the seventh-most games (22) from their best 22 to injury over the first five rounds, according to Champion Data.
The Cats are confident the key forward combination of Cameron and Tom Hawkins will deliver rich rewards.
Dangerfield has been one of the league’s most durable stars over his sparkling 271-game career, playing at least 19 games in each of the past 12 seasons.