Patrick Dangerfield quits Adelaide: Crows star requests trade to Geelong
UPDATE: Adelaide has released a statement saying Patrick Dangerfield wants to return to Victoria as a restricted free agent. READ THE STATEMENT
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THE Adelaide Crows have confirmed Patrick Dangerfield wants to leave the club and return to Victoria.
The Crows issued a statement this afternoon confirming that the star midfielder had informed them he wanted to pursue free agency.
“Whilst disappointing, we understand that Patrick’s decision has been made for personal reasons,” Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said.
“We will now consider our options, however, our members and supporters should rest assured that in doing so we will make decisions and take action that is in the best interests of our football club.”
Chris McDermott: Let Danger squirm
The club said it would make no further comment.
It is understood Dangerfield, who last night earned a third All-Australian jumper, has told the club he wants to play for the Cats, who have offered the 25-year-old a contract worth $800,000 a season over five years.
Adelaide is entitled to match Geelong’s offer for restricted free agent Dangerfield, and doing so would make the Crows the first club in AFL history to exercise that right. It would also force the Cats to satisfy the Crows with a worthy trade deal.
Earlier today, Dangerfield has arrived at the Crows’ end-of-season drinks in Adelaide, telling waiting media there would be an announcement on his future today.
Stopping briefly to address the media on Wednesday morning, Dangerfield said: “I’m here to have a good day, we’ll make those decisions in due course and we’ll announce something later today but at the moment it’s not appropriate.”
Dangerfield told his team-mates of his decision as they celebrated Wacky Wednesday in a city hotel about lunchtime.
He was a late arrival at the end-of-season get-together this morning. Nearly all of the leadership group, including Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Sam Jacobs, Daniel Talia and interim coach Scott Camporeale, were already there when Dangerfield arrived back from last night’s All-Australian dinner in Melbourne.
Sloane had told the media earlier that the players had not pushed Dangerfield for his intentions.
“We don’t know yet,” Sloane said from the Waymouth St pub. “Once a decision has been made we’ll be more than happy to chat about it.
“But for now, no decision has been made.
“The rumours are circling around (the decision to be announced) today but I’m not really sure what to believe.”
THE ADELAIDE CROWS STATEMENT
Patrick Dangerfield has informed the Adelaide Football Club that he wishes to exercise his rights under the AFL’s free agency rules to return home to Victoria.
Crows Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said:
“Whilst disappointing, we understand that Patrick’s decision has been made for personal reasons.
“We will now consider our options, however, our Members and supporters should rest assured that in doing so we will make decisions and take action that is in the best interests of our football club.”
The Club will make no further comment at this stage.
The Free Agency period doesn’t officially open until Friday, October 9, while the AFL Trade Period runs from Monday, October 12, until Thursday, October 22 at 2:00pm (AEST).
Summary of key dates
Friday, October 9 — Restricted Free Agency Offer & Unrestricted Free Agency Period Commences
Monday, October, 12 — AFL Trade Period Commences
Sunday, October 18 — Close of AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer & Unrestricted Free Agency Period
Wednesday, October 21 — AFL Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer 3 Day Period Ends
Thursday, October 22, 2:00pm (AEST) — AFL Trade Period Closes
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