Dangerfield remains in doubt

GEELONG are bracing for their biggest test of the Dangerwood era with the likely prospect of no Patrick Dangerfield for the first time in tomorrow night’s top-of-thetable clash with Adelaide.

Cats coach Chris Scott yesterday rated Dangerfield only a 40 per cent chance to take on his old side, but the prolific midfielder will travel with the team and be given until the last moment to prove his fitness. If there is any doubt, the Brownlow Medal favourite will remain on the sidelines.

Dangerfield has played every game for the Cats since crossing from Adelaide for the 2016 season and Scott admitted it was hard to tell how the side would respond without him.

“Clearly we rely on our best players. I think every team does,” Scott said.

“But it’d be an interesting challenge for us to perform really well against the best team without Patty.

“We got a bit of a look in the Fremantle game and the GWS game without Joel (Selwood).

“I’m not sure that we’ve done it without Patty so it will be a test.”

Dangerfield had his injured foot in a moon boot yesterday and while his teammates trained, he wasn’t spotted on the track. But Scott said not to read too much into that.

“The play from us at the moment is to give it as long as possible, recuperate and then give it a decent test to make sure he’s up for it closer to game day,” Scott said. “If there is any risk that he’s going to compromise himself towards the end of the season, then it’ll be unlikely that he’ll play.”

Scott Selwood (hamstring) and Andrew Mackie (wrist) are expected to return from injury while defender Tom Stewart will play wearing a helmet to protect his face after surgery.