GRAND OCCASION

It’s taken 13 years for Geelong star to make AFL’s Big Dance

P at rick Danger field has dominated on AFL Grand Final day before …just not in the manner he dream tit would be as a kid growing up in Moggs Creek.

That might change on Saturday night as he and Gee long prepare to take on Richmond in the historic G abba premier ship playoff.

But even this week as he prepared for the biggest game of his football life, the 30-year-old Cats superstar could still see the humour in his Grand Final past.

He’ s never won a premier ship —other than a junior under-12s lightning premier ship which he says doesn’t count—but he has at least shone on footy’s biggest day.

“Everyone talks about the dynasties of Gee long and Hawthorn, and lately Richmond, well, someone else went back-toback-to-back ,” Danger field joked thisweek.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Danger field can still see the funny side of his three-p eat of Grand Final sprint victories from2011-13.

His first sprint success came on the day Gee long won its last flag in 2011, albeit he was wearing an Adelaide jumper with his contribution lasting just a tick over 11 seconds.

He was 21 back then and dreaming of far bigger success.

But the promise of two free Grand Final tickets, a $5000 first prize to his local club, and the chance to see Gee long—the club he barracked for as a kid compete for a flag was too good an opportunity top ass up.

As the Cats narrowly trailed the Magpies at half time, Dangerfield streaked away with the win, saying on Channel 10:“I hope the Cats get over them in the end .” They did. Danger field won the next two Grand Finals prints as well, with his three wins leaving him only one behind record-holder, Hawthorn speedster of the ’70 sand ’80s, Geoff Ablett.

It’ s a record he has no intention of chasing. Instead, he will join Geoff Ab let t’ s nephew, Gary Jr, in set, in the chase for the most unique premier ship medal in history.

“I can guarantee you one thing, anyone who compete sin a Grand Final sprint is only there for the free tickets ,” Danger field said this week .“We know what the reals how is.”

Nine years on, Danger field’ s quest to play a more meaningful role on football’ s grande st stage —this time at the G abba—has him excited and grateful.

“We’ ve played some good footy( in 2020) and finally after a few years of hard trying, we have got there ,” he said .“But if we are going to get there, we might as well finish it off.”

The drive to win a title has been an obsession for Dangerfield through four losing preliminary finals. Candidly, he said recently that if his career ended without a flag it would “suck ”.

He also had a light hearted encounter last Sunday involving Richmond’ s Mar lion Pi ck ett, who famously won a premier ship last year in his debut.

“I was sitting down having a chat to Bachar(Houli) and( Tigers assistant coach) Justin Leppitsch was down there ,” he said.

“He was having a bit of a giggle about how it has taken me 13 years for me( to play in a Grand Final) and it took Mar lion onegame.

“So we took different paths to the Big Dance.”