Danger time for Cats star as Brownlow hopes at risk

PATRICK Dangerfield has defended his tackle on Carlton rival Matthew Kreuzer saying he “didn’t think there was much in it” amid widespread debate as to whether it will end the Geelong star’s bid for a second Brownlow Medal.

Dangerfield pinned Kreuzer’s arms and dumped the ruckman head first into the Etihad Stadium turf with a sling tackle in the third quarter of Geelong’s 18.15 (123) to 8.10 (58) victory on Saturday night.

Kreuzer was ushered to the Carlton rooms and wasn’t seen for the rest of the match.

Geelong coach Chris Scott said the fact Kreuzer was concussed should not end Dangerfield’s push for a second straight Brownlow Medal.

Speaking on Game Day, Dangerfield seemed confident there will be no issue with the MRP.

“I haven’t been cited for anything. In my opinion I was just tackling I felt it was a fair tackle,” he said.

“I rolled the tackle so I wouldn’t give away a free kick for in the back. I thought that he still had the ball and that is why I turned around and put my hands in the air.

“There was no umpire’s call at the time. So I don’t see an issue with it but it is not up to me.”

A clampdown on dangerous tackles in recent times cost Docker Cam McCarthy a two-week suspension for driving St Kilda’s Sam Gilbert into the turf and Dangerfield’s effort drew similar comparisons.

Dangerfield pinned Kreuzer’s arms as the pair careered into the ground. While it appeared Kruezer’s shoulder may have hit the ground first, his head also made contact.

The Blues big man bounced back up and didn’t lose consciousness but he was sent from the ground for a concussion test and didn’t return.

Carlton confirmed Kreuzer had suffered a “mild concussion” but Scott, who had watched the incident, said that alone should not be the nail in Dangerfield’s Brownlow coffin.

“When a player is hurt, and goes off the ground, there is an extra dimension there that attracts scrutiny,” he said.

“But I think the powers that be have been very clear that the severity of any injury only comes in to play when you acknowledge that there has been a breach of the rules. And I just don’t see that when I watch it.”

Carlton coach Brendan Bolton said he had not seen the incident in enough detail to make a call, and said Kruezer came from the ground in keeping with the club’s policy on making sure players are “well protected”.

“He didn’t come back on the ground and Kreuz is an absolute workhorse,” Bolton said.

“I consider him a player that can push through adversity but we make sure that our players are really well protected in terms of welfare and anything related to the head ... so in this instance we looked after him.”

Scott paid tribute to his players for a “professional” effort in the comprehensive victory which could yet come at a cost after Nakia Cockatoo looked to have re-injured his hamstring.

But Scott was very pleased with the return to form of star forward Tom Hawkins who kicked six goals in a dominant performance, boosting the Cats ahead of what looms as a massive clash with Sydney on Friday night.