AFL 2024: Tom Stewart says ‘underrated’ Patrick Dangerfield is the right man to lead Cats

Geelong has decided it will stick with Patrick Dangerfield as captain, and his deputy Tom Stewart has given him a wrap. Plus, he gives an update on their pre-season and his own role.

Patrick Dangerfield will lead the club again in 2024. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong vice-captain Tom Stewart says ageing superstar Patrick Dangerfield remains the top candidate to lead the Cats, claiming he is “underrated and undervalued” outside their four walls.

The club confirmed on Thursday that Dangerfield and Stewart will continue as captain and vice-captain in 2024 for the second successive year.

Geelong had a disappointing campaign in Dangerfield’s first year as captain of the club after replacing revered leader Joel Selwood, with the club slumping to 12th on the ladder in an injury-riddled season.

Dangerfield, 33, was impacted by injury like several other Cats stars, missing a month with a hamstring blow and then suffering a partially collapsed lung and a cracked rib in his return game.

The Brownlow medallist’s season was inconsistent by his lofty standards but he showed he can still produce his exhilarating best with 26 disposals, 16 contested possessions and nine clearances against Collingwood in round 22.

Stewart, who signed a bumper contract extension last month until the end of 2027, praised Dangerfield’s work in the role last year despite their win-loss record and said it was an honour to continue as vice-captain.

Tom Stewart has put his full support behind Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“’Pat’ is probably underrated and undervalued in the external perspective in terms of what he brings to our club and what he brings to the list. I thought he did an exceptionally good job under the duress he was under with his own body and the team’s form, I thought he performed exceptionally well in the role,” Stewart said.

“It was always going to be him this year and whatever happens moving forward happens, but he is definitely the man for the job and I’m extremely excited to serve alongside him and give this group a big opportunity to where we think we belong.”

“It wasn’t something as a younger man I thought I would aspire to be but to be seen in this light at such a fantastic club is a real honour and a privilege and something I’m extremely grateful for.

“We understand that last year wasn’t our best and we are excited to see what we can do this year.

“It’s obviously a bit of a shock how much the toll of the premiership took on this list but everyone has come in in really good shape and wanting to put their best foot forward.”

Stewart described the extra break during the off-season as a “godsend” after his first finish outside the finals since arrived at the Cats at the end of 2016.

He said it has helped refresh the group that has a full complement on the track three months out from their round one clash with St Kilda.

The five-time All-Australian was reluctant to single out individuals but recognised the hunger and relentless attitude of his teammates this pre-season.

Stewart flagged their budding group of 21-24 year-olds as the players who can give their side a boost in in 2024 and said their crop of draftees have been “super impressive”.

Sam De Koning is among the players who can jump out of the ground in 2024. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I think there is obviously a large cohort of 21 to 24 year olds – Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn, Ollie Henry, Sam De Koning – I think can go to another level,” Stewart said.

“Toby Conway, Mitch Knevitt (as well). There’s a great group that are going to come through and play a lot of footy together.

“They are really pushing each other along and they are pushing us senior players along too. They have got a great attitude and they’ve got great work ethics to be great players and I’m not going to put any ceiling or any expectation on them.

“(Our draftees) all have fantastic strengths and things they add to our team but obviously all quite young players and quite inexperienced in their growth so. We expect a lot of young players to help us over the last 12, 24 and 36 months so we are excited to see what they can bring to our team and how they can help us.”

“I haven’t had this preparation in my whole career which has been a godsend. You want to play footy to play finals which is why we all do it so to come off a bit of a longer run has been quite nice, not only for the body but for the mind.”

Tom Stewart had a stellar 2023 campaign. Picture: Michael Klein.

Stewart has continued to develop his midfield craft this pre-season.

He spent some time on-ball last season in what he dubbed a “break glass in case of emergency” move to help the depleted Cats midfield, attending 22 centre bounces according to Champion Data.

Asked if he would be in at the first centre bounce in front of the packed GMHBA Stadium in round one, Stewart said: “I’m not sure what it will look like in round one, there is a lot of training and a match sim to get through before then. But we’ll see what happens.”

“It’s nice to get a bit more practice at it and not be so green when I do go in there but hopefully stay healthy and stay strong inside that midfield group (and it) is less time that I have to spend in there.

Stewart is excited to have Guthrie back in their midfield mix and said their top pick from the 2022 draft, Jhye Clark, can help add an extra dimension.

“There are a number of players that can go through there, and there’s a number of different players that have so many different strengths. Jhye has come in and his ferocity at the contest and his footwork, some really special attributes there,” Stewart said.

“Cam Guthrie is a two-time Carji Greeves medallist in a premiership year and a year we made a grand final so it’s not like he’s an average player, he is one of our absolute topliners who we did miss last year.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Tom Stewart says ‘underrated’ Patrick Dangerfield is the right man to lead Cats