Dangerfield Cats’ hero

PATRICK Dangerfield upstaged Luke Hodge in his 300th AFL game to steer Geelong to a nailbiting three-point win over arch-rivals Hawthorn at the MCG yesterday.

Isaac Smith, who missed a shot after the siren in last year’s qualifying final against the Cats, missed another shot on goal with just five seconds remaining as Geelong scraped to a 13.10 (88) to 12.13 (85) win.

Through Dangerfield’s efforts, Geelong looked likely winners until Hawthorn’s late rally.

The Hawks were 15 points down late in the fourth term until Ryan Schoenmakers and Hodge led the charge. Hawthorn had 18 seconds to snatch something, and when the ball fell into Smith’s arms the winger had the chance to make amends for last year’s blunder. He played on, kicked wide from 40m and the Cats held on.

Geelong owed their lead to an incredible effort from Dangerfield, (pictured), who was uncontainable up front, kicking 5.6.

The Brownlow Medallist’s day appeared over in the first term when he was laid out in a fair bump from Jarryd Roughead and immediately put his hand in the air for a trainer.

He was rushed down the race but emerged soon after with a severe limp and was sent forward by Cats coach Chris Scott.

Hawthorn kicked five of the next six goals after Dangerfield’s injury — until the Cat broke that run with a fine snap and goal from the pocket.

The match see-sawed until Dangerfield put his authority on the contest with a threegoal third term.

No Hawk defender could lay a glove on Dangerfield, whose heroics had the 70,345strong crowd electrified.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson even sent his milestone man Hodge to the exCrow without success.

The Cats now take a temporary place on top of the AFL ladder with four hard- earned points.