Dangerfield targets Port clash for return to action
GEELONG champion Patrick Dangerfield says he is on track to return after the mid-season bye, with the Brownlow medallist eyeing off his team’s clash against Port Adelaide as his first game since undergoing ankle surgery.
Dangerfield is set to increase his workload this week after his syndesmosis setback and while he is keen to be playing as soon as he can, he is realistic about his likely comeback date.
“Everything is going really well at the moment, so barring any setbacks I am trying to push the physios as much as I can,” Dangerfield said.
“I am back on track running this week which is really good, so the challenge is just to continue to work on that, improve that, and improve the strength of the leg and the muscle around it but everything is tracking well at the moment.
“I would love to play before the bye but I don’t know how realistic that is and given the context of the season and where we are at there is also an element of being smart with how we play it out. So at the moment everything is going pretty well and I would certainly be hopeful of playing immediately after that (the bye), if not before, but I doubt it.”
Dangerfield had an indifferent summer, with groin issues limiting his preparation ahead of the 2021 season.
The 31-year-old has barely missed a game since arriving at
Geelong and said adapting to having so much time off would present a new challenge.
“There is the element of not getting the hits but also I think an important part of playing is the continuity you get, and you just get used to it, so your body adapts,” he said.
“So that is probably a slight change and something I haven’t experienced before.”