Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield adamant Cats can respond after disappointing seven-week stretch

Geelong is in a rut, but Patrick Dangerfield believes his side can turn it around. And he was his jovial self when asked about their premiership ambitions.

Patrick Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs after the loss to Carlton. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is adamant his side can turn their season around after a dismal stretch, saying that some tweaks can allow them to surge into September.

The Cats were sitting pretty at 7-0 to start the season but have won just one of their last seven games, against 17th placed Richmond, with their 63-point loss to Carlton exposing holes in their midfield and defensive system.

Dangerfield returned from his second hamstring injury this season – his first game since their win over Carlton in round seven – and started strongly early on, finishing with 17 disposals and nine contested possessions.

But the Cats are facing the prospect of being without him and injured key forward Tom Hawkins for their blockbuster country game clash against Essendon on Saturday night, with the Cats challenging Dangerfield’s one-week suspension for a dangerous tackle.

Geelong coach Chris Scott ruled out the possibility of a rebuild post-match on Friday night and Dangerfield echoed that sentiment.

Asked if the Cats are still hunting a premiership in 2024, Dangerfield quipped: “I think it is time to quit, there is only nine games left.”

Patrick Dangerfield showed some of his trademark burst on return. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We won’t sit on our heels, we are not going to sit in the corner and wallow about losing. We have got to improve, we have got to get better and that’s one of the things that we have always done really well as an organisation and that’s get back to work.

“I think the list is always in a transition phase. That’s regardless of whatever position you’re in, whether you are in 17th or you’re in first, the list is always transitioning and always looking to improve.

“We are no different to that and there is a fine balance between providing opportunity, clearly that’s important, and picking the best side. That’s sometimes the catch 22 of experience versus youth and injecting new players into the team.

“We will always pick the best team but at times it does provide some opportunities to blood some younger players. But we still feel like we are absolutely in the hunt this season, there is a few little tweaks we need to make in order to improve, that’s clear, but by no means is it insurmountable.”

Dangerfield highlighted Shannon Neale, who appears set to replace Hawkins after kicking 3.3 and clunking eight marks in an imposing VFL performance on Sunday, and draft smokey Lawson Humphries as players to watch in the back-half of the year for the Cats.

He felt that under-fire vice-captain Tom Stewart performed well despite again copping a tag, this time from Blues stopper Alex Cincotta.

“Quite clearly there is an opposition focus every week,” Dangerfield said.

“We still feel he is very much contributing to the team and I thought he was one of our better players on the night.”

Eligible as a restricted free agent at the end of the year, Dangerfield said contract talks haven’t begun but is happy with where things sit.

“I’m really comfortable with where things are at and so is the club, plenty of time for that,” Dangerfield said.

However there have been some rival offers from his junior club Anglesea.

“The remuneration aint that high though, we’ve got some challenges down there commercially but we’ll work through that,” Dangerfield said with a laugh.

Originally published as Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield adamant Cats can respond after disappointing seven-week stretch