Latest AFL News

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield flags return, adjustment made to game style

The 2016 Brownlow medallist is all but set to return to play but the question as too when is still up in the air.

Published by
Aidan Cellini

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has declared himself right to go after overcoming a second hamstring bout this year.

Dangerfield has been absent from the senior side since Round 7 after injuring his left hamstring.

However, with the upcoming bye following the Round 13 clash with Sydney, Cats coach Chris Scott could be reluctant to whip 'Danger' into action despite having resumed full training for the past fortnight.

“There are two schools of thought. One, I've been training for a couple of weeks now and I'm ready to go, which I feel I am," Dangerfield said on SEN's Whateley.

“But the other is you bank one more game and it actually means two more weeks of training which means probably five (lots of) 10-12 kilometre sessions."

A meeting on Tuesday with Scott and the medical staff at Geelong will give Dangerfield clarity on what his next fortnight will look like in terms of training.

Now, after 325 AFL games, the former Crow has looked at altering his game style to prevent the soft tissue injuries that have plagued him in the past four years.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats during the 2024 AFL Round 2 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on March 22, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Dangerfield hasn't played a full season since 2020 but has revealed the adjustment he is making at the ripe age of 34.

“The last two hamstring injuries I've had have been exactly the same mechanism, bending down at full stretch without really bending your knee," Dangerfield said.

“What it means practically is you probably get to the ball slightly slower, not because you haven't run as fast or been as explosive, but you've got in a position where you bend your knees more, taking slightly longer to bend over rather than taking it at full speed and full stretch without getting super low… and that's always been my strength."

2024-06-09T05:20:00Z
Published by
Aidan Cellini