DANGER PLAN

PATRICK Dangerfield knows another slow start will cost Geelong its season, but the Brownlow medallist is confident the Cats can fire early against Sydney at the MCG tonight.

Geelong was jumped by Richmond last week, eventually losing by 51 points, and in last year’s preliminary final against the Swans they trailed 44-2 at the first break.

Dangerfield said a strong start was crucial to tonight’s semi-final.

“I reckon our good is as good as theirs, I reckon our good is better than theirs — the challenge for us is to play on our terms, to start the game well,” he said.

“You can’t start games the way we have and expect to win. The game is too difficult now to set yourself that far behind. We’re playing against the best starting team in the competition so either bring it, or we’ll be dust.

“It’s simple, the equation, we have no choice.”

The Cats last night selected back- in-favour forward Daniel Menzel and speedy Darcy Lang to replace Cam Guthrie and Jordan Murdoch.

Geelong is the underdog tonight — the unchanged Swans are $1.35 compared with $3.30 for the Cats.

But Dangerfield said being written off might just suit his side.

Geelong consistently keeps making the top eight, but last week’s dismal last quarter against Richmond means the Cats are 2-7 in finals since 2011.

“I don’t know if you love it, you can’t control it, but can you almost use it as I suppose motivation, maybe?” Dangerfield said of being written off.

“I find it funny, the footy world. Everything’s swings and roundabouts.

“We saw during the season you had Adelaide who had a few poor games all of a sudden they’re crap, two weeks later they’re playing great footy — premiership favourites.

“We went through the same thing, Sydney were nil and six, their season’s over, all of a sudden they’re the premiership favourites.

“We’re under the pump because of our performance and that is so fair and right because that’s what we dished up. Yeah, backs against the wall, perhaps, but we think we’re a pretty good side.

“I reckon Sydney are sitting back thinking the same thing, but I back our systems in. We’ve got to be confident about it.”

Dangerfield said he was excited to see how his side responds in a cut-throat contest.

“I just want to see a hungry Geelong, whether that’s in the contest, whether that’s an attitude to put our bodies on the line when it presents,” he said.

“I want to see us enjoy it, celebrate our goals, embrace the moment because how many opportunities do you get like this? It’s just awesome.

“It’s so hard to get to now, let’s not go into our shell, let’s embrace the moment, let’s give it everything that we’ve got regardless of what’s said externally because it just doesn’t matter.

“All that matters is what we do in here, how we respond.”