Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield unsure of severity of Shannon Neale injury concern
Geelong’s captain has spoken out about a Tiger’s ban for pushing as the Cats chief executive provides an update on the league’s audit of its third party player payments.
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Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield said Richmond’s challenge to a three-week ban for Rhyan Mansell for pushing an opponent which resulted in a concussion shaped up as a “test case” on the emerging issue after four rounds.
The Tigers will challenge Mansell’s ban at the tribunal on Tuesday for pushing Liam O’Connell into oncoming traffic, which resulted in a concussion for the St Kilda defender at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The match review panel decided it was reasonable to expect Mansell to foresee the potential for injury to his opponent in O’Connell.
The act was classified as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact by the match review officer.
It also decided that he was not contesting the football given it was going over his head where Tom Lynch and Anthony Caminiti brought it to ground.
AFL executive football boss Laura Kane wrote to clubs in March telling them players had a duty of care to their opponent when pushing them into a marking contest.
On Monday, Dangerfield, who recently stepped down as the AFL Players Association president, agreed with that sentiment while appreciating the delicate balance of the “combative nature” of football contrasted with the concerns for player safety.
“I think as players we’ve got to be mindful, there’s a duty of care there,” Dangerfield said.
“You don’t want it to creeping in too much.
“There’s a fine balance with player safety around that.
“Everyone wants to compete, that’s what we love about the game, the combative nature, but there’s a fine balance with player safety around that.
“I dare say that’s the test case tonight.”
Dangerfield said the game had rightfully changed and its constant evolution would continue to be tested.
“It needs to continue to do that,” he said.
“There’s going to be times when it’s tested, and the status quo, how it’s always been, is going to be challenged.
“I think it’s being challenged for the right reasons, you want players out there available.
“You’ve got to reduce the chances for unfortunate incidents, potentially this may be along those lines.”
Danger unsure about Shannon Neale’s injury
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is unsure of the exact issue with young forward Shannon Neale’s foot following the Cats’ round 3 loss against Brisbane at the Gabba.
Neale, seen in a moon boot at the airport after the game, came off in the first quarter on Saturday night, but returned to the field and played out the game, which the Cats lost by nine points.
When asked if there were any ongoing issues with the 22-year-old forward, Dangerfield was unsure.
“I haven’t had a chance to debrief yet,” Dangerfield said.
“I’m assuming he’ll have some scans early in the week, and see where it’s at.
“He was able to finish out the game (against Brisbane).
“Until we get scans, we’ll get greater clarity around that.”
Meanwhile, gun defender Tom Stewart could return for round 4 against Melbourne at Kardinia Park on Friday, with fellow defensive pieces Jed Bews and Jake Kolodjashnij still sidelined. Stewart was subbed out of the round 2 game against St Kilda in the second quarter, later revealed to be nursing a PCL injury.
But the Cats’ first pick in the 2023 national draft, Connor O’Sullivan, was again strong down back against the Lions while Zach Guthrie had moments of genuine brilliance to be among the Cats’ best.
The five-time all-Australian Stewart made the trip to Brisbane on the weekend but was replaced in the side by Mark O’Connor.
“You’d walk him out with crutches if you needed to,” Dangerfield said.
“You can’t replace Tom Stewart – you can manufacture the role but he’s an incredible player, one of the best defenders in the game … one of the best defenders ever.”
Dangerfield referred to UK classic comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail when he said his nasty head clash with a Lions player was “just a flesh wound”.
“I’m trying to channel Joel (Selwood),” he said.
The captain said there were some “good elements” in the game against Brisbane but plenty of things to work on, including its execution, as the Cats started the season 1-2.
He said the third quarter was the most problematic, with the Lions kicking 4.3 to no score and the ball spending most of the time in Brisbane’s attacking half.
“We’ll go to work on that (Tuesday), there’s a bit to review,” he said.
“Just those little idiosyncrasies we weren’t able to really nail. It’s not too much finetuning I don’t think, but that’s the challenge for us.
“The pleasing part is we’ve been well and truly in both games, particularly the game on the weekend. It’s a very even competition and you’ve got to be able to execute.”
AFL audit of Cats’ third-party payments remains ongoing, chief executive says
Geelong chief executive Steven Hocking is confident the club’s third-party payments with its players have all been above board amid an audit by the AFL.
The Addy revealed last month that one of the high-ranking AFL officers overseeing the examination, Simon Kelleher, spent nearly seven years at Kardinia Park as the Cats’ chief operating officer.
On Monday, Hocking told reporters he was unsure when the investigation would conclude or even whether he would be able to provide with an update on the AFL’s investigations.
“Look just what the AFL said, all clubs are reviewed and that’s just ongoing as far as any football club,” Hocking said.
“As the AFL have said, we won’t be commenting publicly basically because it goes on regularly with all clubs.”
He said he was confident the club had not done anything wrong.
In a previous statement, the league said it would not reveal the findings of its audit at Geelong unless it found the club has breached rules, but the Cats were not the only club being looked at.
“The AFL conducts regular salary-cap audit activities across a number of clubs every year as part of our annual salary-cap compliance process,” an AFL spokesman said.
“We do not provide commentary on the conduct or progress of any of these activities, and the only time we release any information publicly is if we determine there has been a breach of AFL rules.”
Cats to wear commemorative guernsey against the Dees
Geelong players will wear a commemorative guernsey celebrating 100 years of key sponsor Ford when they take on the Melbourne Demons this Friday.
The guernsey features the Ford colour blue on the sleeves and nape, a replica of the side stripe on a XY GT 1971 across the front and the words 100 years of Ford.
Captain Patrick Dangerfield said the guernsey was “a ripper”.
“It’s fantastic, my kids see the Ford sign as Geelong Cats,” he said.
“It’s a corporation and a brand that’s been synonymous with ours for such a long period of time, we’re really proud of the relationship we have.
“We’re really looking forward to Friday, obviously to play but to really celebrate a wonderful collaboration.”
Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking said former president, the late Frank Costa and then chief executive Brian Cook had gone to Ford for an advance of sponsorship when times were tough in the late 1990s.
“That kept us going as a football club,” Hocking said.
“Since the late 90s it’s four premierships and 19 finals series appearances across that period of time.
“We’re very, very grateful (for the partnership).
Geelong will be homing for a home-ground win against Melbourne at GMHBA stadium, after losing the last two matches to St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions.
Originally published as Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield unsure of severity of Shannon Neale injury concern
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