Geelong’s appetite for change part of decision to appoint Patrick Dangerfield as new captain

There is no standing still this year at Geelong as the club moves forward with its flag defence and Patrick Dangerfield’s ascension to the captaincy is part of the club’s evolution.

Geelong leaders Tom Stewart and Patrick Dangerfield will push for back-to-back flags. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield’s promotion to the captaincy at Geelong is part of a club-wide push to “embrace the change” as the Cats promise to “evolve” in the hunt for back-to-back flags.

Dangerfield will step in after Joel Selwood’s 11-year record-breaking run as skipper but the eight-time All-Australian said it was possible he could be a one-and-done leader with the club to reassess the position at the end of the season.

MELBOURNE. 23/02/2023. AFL. Geelong vs Hawthorn at Kardinia Park, Geelong. Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats out of the middle. Pic: Michael Klein

The Brownlow medallist is arguably the busiest man in football, with his role as president of the AFL Players Association and a three young children yet he said he would be able to juggle another important job.

He said it was feasible to remain as AFLPA president given Geelong’s relaxed workloads on veteran players, as the organisation works through a new collective bargaining agreement.

“I’m not actually doing the work, that’s for (AFLPA boss Paul Marsh) and the (executive group) at the AFLPA,” he said.

“There is a fair bit to work through at the moment but nothing that is insurmountable that is for certain.”

After Selwood’s retirement, the Cats were able to look at a reset of its leadership structure and landed on a similar look as 2022, with Tom Stewart again to act as vice-captain.

Patrick Dangerfield is ready for 2023. Picture: Brad Fleet

Head coach Chris Scott said the new face as skipper was part of a mandate in Geelong to keep moving forward in 2023 as the club eyes its first back-to-back success since 1951-52.

“I think Joel retiring was an opportunity for us to embrace the change and that’s why in part the conversations with those people have been more about what we want from the people in those positions as opposed to who it actually should be,” Scott said.

“The worst thing you can do when you have had a great leader is to imitate it because you just won’t do it as well.

“Joel has laid a pretty good platform, it’s not as if we have to disregard everything, it’s more about saying ‘we are in a good spot, let’s think about how we can evolve’. It’s probably symbolic of where we are as a team going into ‘23.

“The biggest mistake we could make is say ‘let’s do what we did in ‘22 and assume that’s good enough’. We are sure that will not be good enough so we have to embrace the change.”

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield shared a strong bond. Picture by Michael Klein

Dangerfield admitted he didn’t consider captaincy when he moved to Geelong in late 2015, but had dreamt of leading a club during his stint at Adelaide.

“I think it’s not until you spend a long time at clubland and in the competition that you really get a grasp on what makes a great leader,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong’s appetite for change part of decision to appoint Patrick Dangerfield as new captain