Dangerfield: I have friends at Adelaide, but this isn’t personal – strictly business
Patrick Dangerfield would care more about the Brownlow Medal if the AFL’s highest individual honour helped him get a kick in a final.
Patrick Dangerfield greets the crowd on his return to Adelaide Oval this year to face his former team. Photo: Ben Macmahon / AAP
And if that’s at the expense of his former team, so be it.
The Geelong star and favourite for the game’s highest individual honour says his only concern is the preliminary final on Friday week – possibly against his former club, the Adelaide Crows, if they can get over the Sydney Swans on their home deck on Saturday night.
Last night, the 26-year-old’s Brownlow favouritism was again highlighted when he easily won the AFL Players Association most valuable player award – with a whopping 1369 votes. As if to further rankle Adelaide supporters, his closest rival was former teammate and good mate Rory Sloane on 443. Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin was a distant third on 297.
Dangerfield has enjoyed a stellar year after the high-profile move from Adelaide and he also won the AFL coaches award.
But the only thing that counts to the midfield ace is being part of his first AFL premiership team.
Dangerfield has only played in one preliminary final, when the Crows lost to Hawthorn in 2012.
“It’s not going to help us win, so if it’s not going to help us win, then it’s not something I’m concerned about,” Dangerfield said of the prospective Brownlow after his most valuable player award win.
“The longer you play, the more you understand just how rare finals are.
“This is my ninth season, I’ve played in one preliminary before and I hated that feeling of losing it.
“I don’t want to be there again.”
Similarly, Dangerfield is ruthless about the prospect of facing his old club in the preliminary final.
While the Swans and Crows will play this Saturday, Geelong have the weekend off after their epic qualifying win over Hawthorn.
Dangerfield said he would not barrack for – or against – Adelaide when the Crows play Sydney.
“I have friends at Adelaide, obviously, who I’d love to see do well,” he said.
“But at this time of year, you have to remove emotion because it’s about us and us winning.
“For us, and me, it’s business – we’re here to win and whoever wins (on Saturday), well, that’s the challenge for us.
“In normal games … I think you have a side that you favour and generally this year when Adelaide have played, I’ve wanted them to do well.
“But it’s all business over the next two weeks.”
Dangerfield is also unconcerned about another bye week, saying it would not excuse a preliminary final loss.
“If you can’t get yourself up for a preliminary final, I don’t think you ever will,” he said.
-AAP
