Danger has edge with his goals

AS the game adopts radical change in terms of how you score, combined with Geelong’s midfield expansion, Patrick Dangerfield could win the Coleman Medal this year.

He’s about $34 if you’re keen, but that’s an aside.

That ability to kick goals is why Dangerfield is No.1 in the Top 50 and Dustin Martin is No.2.

Everyone could argue for hours about who is the better player and by argument’s end there won’t be a united voice.

There are seducing arguments for both players.

Martin last year had 744 disposals and kicked 37.29 playing midfield/forward — and won every fair dinkum award imaginable.

There’s an enchantment about Martin and about Richmond after the historic premiership, and as we sit here with the season starting on Thursday, Martin is the face, the hero and the marketing king of the AFL.

In some respects Dangerfield’s season seems to have been blotted somewhat by Martin’s bright lights.

Anyway, that was last season and this is the new season.

The arrival of 33-year-old Gary Ablett at Geelong has prompted discussion about when Ablett Sr played forward as a 33-year-old. That was in 1995 and Gazza Sr kicked 122.85. The next season, as a 34-year-old and in his final season of football, he kicked 69.31 from 17 games.

Junior can’t and won’t do what Senior did because they’re different players. Senior was an incredible mark and scoring option, and tactics have changed substantially

No, I think Gazza will play a lot more midfield than many suspect, meaning it’s more than likely Dangerfield will increase his forward 50m minutes. And more minutes for Dangerfield means more goals. He kicked 45.32 from 24 games in 2017, playing 74 per cent midfield and 26 per cent forward.

That could expand to 60, 70 maybe 80 goals if time spent in the arc was raised to, say, 50 per cent. Martin’s breakdown was 71 per cent and 29 per cent.

Dangerfield’s marking is his weapon and, nitpicking here, that’s one aspect he has over Martin. Martin would also kick more goals with more time, but Dangerfield has that one extra avenue.

The Top 10 has the usual suspects — Buddy Franklin, Alex Rance, Josh Kennedy from West Coast and Joel Selwood. Some have said Selwood has peaked, but I disagree. The 10-year champ will escape the tag this year and will be enormous.

The bolters are Joe Daniher (No.8), Tom Mitchell (No.15) and Patrick Cripps (16), who will also play more forward minutes this year.