Patrick Dangerfield says reward for bushfire hit communities will far outweigh risk of injury in AFL relief match
State of Origin is back and with it comes fresh concerns for players risking injury on the eve of a new season. But superstar Patrick Dangerfield says the bushfire fundraiser is more than just a game of footy.
Geelong
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Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield says the reward for Australia’s fire ravaged communities will far outweigh the risk of injury in the AFL’s State of Origin bushfire relief match.
After confirming his intention to play in the representative match between Victoria and the All Stars, Dangerfield said the potential for pre-season injury was not even a concern.
Dangerfield said football injuries could not even compare to what people in Australia’s fire impacted communities were going through.
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“There is risk of injury every time you take to a training session,” Dangerfield said.
“So this is no different to playing a (Marsh Community Series) game that will happen around the same time. Injury is just a part of our game.
“I think what you are seeing around Australia is more significant than a player doing a hamstring.
“That is just a fact of our game. We will look beyond that if we have players that are injured then those players will deal with it, but we go with our eyes well and truly open and understand that it is something far greater than just ourselves.”
The match on February 28 at Marvel Stadium will come just a week after the start of the league’s pre-season Marsh Community Series.
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Dangerfield said players would be able to treat the match as a pre-season tune up.
“I think players certainly will. The timing of it sits really well,” Dangerfield said.
“But even if it didn’t I think our clubs and players the AFL would make a way to make it work so that we could make a meaningful contribution.”
Asked if he expected the players would “have a crack” in the relief match, the Cats’ midfield ace said “no doubt”.
“It’s a bit fluffy at the start and then when the game really heats up then you want to win,” Dangerfield said.
“Any opportunity to represent your state or your club you have got to make sure you take that and you enjoy every second of it because we might not get another chance to don the Big V.
“I know I’ll be making the most of it.”