AFL 2024: Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield to miss up to six weeks with hamstring injury

The diagnosis is in for Patrick Dangerfield and it is a significant setback for Geelong.

Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for up to six weeks with another hamstring injury in a significant blow for the Cats ahead of a challenging fixture run.

The Cats confirmed on Tuesday that the setback was to the same left hamstring that the ageing superstar injured against Adelaide in round two and that he is expected to miss the next 4-6 matches.

It means Geelong is set to be without Dangerfield for crunch clashes with Melbourne (MCG), Port Adelaide (GMHBA Stadium), Gold Coast (TIO Stadium) and Greater Western Sydney (GMHBA Stadium) in the next month. 

Dangerfield sat out the next three matches after his initial setback and returned in round six, but the 34-year-old lasted just a game and a half before re-injuring that hamstring against Carlton.

He was subbed out in the third quarter after a dominant first half that was reminiscent of Dangerfield in his prime.

Patrick Dangerfield was in fine form before going down. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong assistant football boss Brett Johnson said they will be cautious with Dangerfield but his return to play timeline could change.

“The injury Pat has sustained is similar to the one from earlier in the season where he missed 21 days. Given the injury is to the same leg, we will continue to take a conservative approach in his recovery and return to play,” Johnson said.

“With a focus to set Pat up for the second part of the season, at this stage he will miss four-to-six weeks, however we will reassess his progress and the time frame that he returns to the line-up as he works through his training program.”

Geelong welcomed back Cam Guthrie last week and he only attended 11 per cent of centre bounces, while Tom Atkins, who finished third in in their best-and-fairest last year as a midfielder, started as the substitute. 

Talented young midfielder Jhye Clark could also come into the frame after responding to his axing with 22 disposals, 13 contested possessions and 118 SuperCoach points in his first VFL game of the season over the weekend. 

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield to miss up to six weeks with hamstring injury