‘A lot of faith’: How young Cats stood up in Dangerfield absence

When Patrick Dangerfield was subbed off in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, coach Chris Scott was not worried. Find out why.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Max Holmes of the Cats celebrates after scoring a goal during the round eight AFL match between Geelong Cats and Adelaide Crows at GMHBA Stadium, on May 06, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Cats coach Chris Scott has lauded the rising midfield stars after losing his captain to a hamstring injury in the early stages of the second half.

Patrick Dangerfield hobbled off the ground and down the race at GMHBA Stadium seconds after the third quarter began, before he was quickly subbed out for Oliver Dempsey.

Scott said he was impressed by Geelong’s young midfield brigade that stepped up in his absence.

“It gives opportunity to younger players, and when the game was on the line late in the game we were so impressed by Tanner Bruhn, Mitch Knevitt,” he said.

MELBOURNE. 06/05/2023. AFl. Round 8. Geelong vs Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium. Tanner Bruhn of the Cats celebrates a 4th quarter goal . Pic: Michael Klein

“We had some crucial centre bounces late in the game and it was Atkins and Knevitt and Bruhn and it’s exciting for us.

“It’s not necessarily by design, and I know it’s easier to say when you’ve won, even if we didn’t the silver lining when you have a bit of an injury list to key players is that you see other players come through.

“Max was probably one of those players in the centre square late, we’ve got a lot of faith in Max, he’s still a developing player.

“It’s just exciting, when you group those guys together, if you’re a Geelong fan you kind of think ‘I’ve got a bit of an idea what it’ll look like in four or five years time’.”

Max Holmes had 13 of his 22 touches in the second half, including a nine-disposal, five-tackle third term, while eight of Tanner Bruhn’s touches came in the second half.

Mitch Knevitt collected 15 disposals and looked classy through the centre square at times, while Mark Blicavs and Tom Atkins were two of the most senior midfielders in the second half, having cut their teeth in the guts in 2022.

Atkins and Blicavs both had defensive duties on Crows skipper Jordan Dawson and All Australian Rory Laird, with Laird kept to 21 touches while Dawson had 29 disposals.

Originally published as