Waiting game on Danger

Cat superstar has had scans — but he can’t tell us the results

GEELONG will find out today whether Patrick Dangerfield will be available for its seasonopener with Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday.

Dangerfield had scans on his injured hamstring yesterday but was unable to tell reporters at GMHBA Stadium what they had revealed.

It is understood that club doctors reviewed the scans last night and will have a clearer picture of the extent of the damage the 2016 Brownlow medallist has done by this morning.

Dangerfield said yesterday there was little more that he could do than wait for his results to come back.

“To be honest, the results of the scan could take a few hours before they get back to our docs. I’m not a doctor so we’ve just got to wait on the results,” Dangerfield said.

“It was only 24 hours ago so it really hasn’t changed too much … until we get the results back I don’t really know.

“It feels OK today so hope- fully the progression is better and better and be a chance for next week, but who knows.”

The chances of Geelong’s much-hyped midfield trio of Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood all lining up together in Round 1 remain slim, though Ablett trained with little restriction yesterday at St Mary’s Football club, adjacent to the Cats’ home ground, as he ramps up his bid to take on the Demons.

Ruckman Rhys Stanley is in a similar boat to Dangerfield after injuring his calf in the Cats’ final JLT Series hitout against Essendon on Sunday. The 27-year-old was in a battle with Zac Smith for the No. 1 ruck spot but will learn today whether the scans he had yesterday will rule him out of the Melbourne game. MELBOURNE’S bold decision to move on Jack Watts is set to draw instant rewards as bolter Bayley Fritsch closes on a Round 1 debut.

Fritsch has been one of the finds of the pre-season, slotting into Melbourne’s forward line after kicking 42 goals for Casey Demons last year.

The Demons not only handed Watts to Port Adelaide for pick 31, they paid about $70,000 of Watts’s deal for the next two years to sweeten that trade. Then they swooped on Fritsch with that selection ahead of West Coast, one of many clubs keen on the 186cm forward. Fritsch has been exceptional in two JLT games and the AFLX tournament, impressing with his silky left foot, eye for goal and strong overhead marking.

He is considered a strong chance for a Round 1 debut.