Patrick Dangerfield, member of Geelong Football Club captaincy, is sitting on the precipice of a massive career milestone. He is getting close to his 350th AFL game! Dangerfield, at 35 years old, has had a storied career that started off in Adelaide back in 2008. He played 154 games there before his move to Geelong, where he’s added another 195 games to his ledger.
Dangerfield’s resume speaks for itself, from winning the prestigious Brownlow Medal in 2016 to being an eight-time All-Australian. He has won three best & fairest awards and was a key part of Geelong’s successful premiership campaign in 2022. Ahead of his 250th game in today’s clash against Brisbane, though, he is thinking about how far he has come as a player.
In the past few seasons, Dangerfield has undergone a striking transition from classic midfield workhorse to full-time forward presence. He refers to this modification as a “game changer.” This strategic shift has allowed him to redefine his impact on the field and contribute to his team’s success in new ways.
At an International media conference in July, Dangerfield introduced his two daughters, Felicity and George. In person, each of them delivered a necessary dose of humor to the day. Felicity’s smart jab aimed at Geelong coach Chris Scott had the room in stitches. When her father was asking her what she wanted to say to the coach Felicity boldly said, “You’re late.” Her proposal drew a wave of laughter from all those in attendance.
Dangerfield went on to thank the spaghetti monster for allowing him to keep playing the game he loves.
“I’m happy to say I’m loving the game as much as I’ve ever loved it, to be honest,” – Patrick Dangerfield
In his acceptance speech, he paid tribute to the game’s beauty and mystery. As he approaches the twilight of his time on-track, he knows just how lucky he’s been to race in such an enigmatic, tricky situation.
“And perhaps that’s because you do get closer to the end than the start,” – Patrick Dangerfield
This feeling rings true to countless competitive athletes who look back on their careers as they approach the end of their days in elite athletics. Dangerfield highlighted the importance of how working with young players helps him stay young himself.
“And you realize how fortunate you are to play the game, to be involved in it, to try and feel young with the young players that come in and the stories they have and the way they go about things,” – Patrick Dangerfield
Dangerfield’s been at the top of his profession for a long time. His coach, Chris Scott, remains full of hugs for his keystone-like anchor role on the team’s inside-third.
“He was the best player of that type in the competition,” – Chris Scott
Scott continued to highlight just how important Dangerfield’s play on the field is. He went on to praise Dangerfield’s leadership and contribution to creating a high performance club culture.
“Pat himself talks about it a lot – there’s so many people that go into making a club successful over a long period of time. But none of them more important than him,” – Chris Scott
As Dangerfield prepares for his historic game, he’s the very definition of blue collar. His preparation is a beautiful ode to just what it takes to get ahead. It is his impact off the field that has inspired an entire generation of football fans and young, aspiring athletes.
