Patrick Dangerfield is ‘set for a huge year’, says assistant coach Corey Enright

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield looked sublime at training which prompted assistant coach Corey Enright to send a warning to the competition.

Geelong assistant coach Corey Enright has sent a warning to the competition, declaring champion Patrick Dangerfield can reach another level in 2019.

The 2016 Brownlow medallist looked sublime at training at Deakin University on Wednesday, at one stage roving a ball up in match simulation to burst away from the stoppage in distinct Dangerfield style and deliver the ball inside 50.

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Forward line coach Enright said the six-time All Australian was catching the eye over summer.

“It’s nice to see Patty Dangerfield looking pretty sharp,” he said.

“From a coach’s point of view, he’s leading the way and he’s come back in ripping nick.

“He’s set himself for a huge year and when your senior players and leaders do that, the rest of the group tends to follow.”

Patrick Dangerfield handballs under pressure from Mark Blicavs at Geelong training. Picture: Alan Barber

And Enright said Dangerfield had room to improve despite already setting the bar high.

“Yeah he can and he’s the first one to put his hand up,” he said.

“He’s always learning and constantly improving.

“His strengths are his attributes but he can also work on a few things as well and also to see him up forward would be nice from my point of view, and see what damage he can do with some of the other players.”

Esava Ratugolea completed his second session in full training and looked strong in the contest to impress Enright, while 20-year-old Sam Simpson trained sharply, with his running ability and agility a highlight.

“He’s probably a guy that’s going to play a little bit forward and a little bit midfield,” Enright said of Simpson.

Patrick Dangerfield. Geelong Cats training at Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus. Picture: Alan Barber

“He’s got some good attributes around the ball but also some decisions away from the ball.

“(He’s) another one in that category where he’s had a taste of senior footy but coming into his third year we’re looking for a bit more from those guys.

“It’s a good opportunity for those guys to come in and take their chances along the way and we’ve got a huge group of those guys in that two to four-year category, so we’ve got some hopes for ‘Simmo’ as we do for most of the guys in that bracket.”

While the likes of Dangerfield and Gary Ablett will spend more time on the ball that not, Enright said the coaches had put it on the younger players to burst into the midfield next year.

“The door’s always ajar and if they can knock them out, there’s room for them (the senior players) in the forward half,” he said.

Originally published as Patrick Dangerfield is ‘set for a huge year’, says assistant coach Corey Enright