GWS Giants pondering how to stop Patrick Dangerfield when they face Geelong on Sunday
IT’S not the news Leon Cameron and the Giants want to hear but Patrick Dangerfield’s demolition of Hawthorn is only a glimpse of what he is capable of.
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IT’S not the news Leon Cameron and the Giants want to hear but Patty Dangerfield’s demolition of Hawthorn is only a glimpse of what the superstar midfielder has added to Geelong since he arrived in the off-season.
According to his new team mate and triple premiership player Harry Taylor, Dangerfield’s on field performance is easily matched by what he offers off the field.
Sunday in Canberra, Cameron and GWS have been handed mission impossible trying to subdue the former Crow.
“He is a superstar in the game but he is so level headed and so in tune with what a good team needs,” Taylor told the Saturday Telegraph.
“It’s really humbling to see that from someone who is as gifted and talented as he is. He still understands the importance of what makes a great team. That’s something I admire about him. He knows it’s a team game and we need a consistent performance from a number of individuals. He was outstanding on Monday and he’s been that way since he first arrived at the footy club. He just wants to learn the Geelong way and to set an example he’s wanted to do everything to earn the respect of his team mates.”
Dangerfield produced one of the best debut performances ever for a new club when he demolished the Hawks almost single handed. He picked up 43 possessions including 21 contested and should have kicked three goals if not for errant kicking.
Cameron joked during the week he would play former Cat Steve Johnson on him in his first game against his old team and Johnson went along with the gag.
“I’ve got the pace to go with him Leon, let me at him,” Johnson said.
What is more likely is Steve Coniglio will get the unenviable job of trying to stop Dangerfield after returning from a hamstring injury in the NEAFL last week. However Cameron warned against becoming too conscious of the Cats star when there were a lot of his team mates who needed attention as well.
“He’s a special player but so is Selwood and so is Blicavs,” Cameron said.
“No doubt he’s a special talent and they are a very good footy club. Monday was a cracking game anyone who watched it that’s where we want to get to. It’s a great challenge and we look forward to it.”
While Johnson won’t have any insights on Dangerfield he will have plenty of insights into the Geelong game plan after 14 years at the Cattery.
“It’s one thing knowing what they are going to do it’s another thing and that’s trying to stop them,” Johnson said.
“Also we need to focus on what we need to do and do it really well and improve on last week to give us any chance of taking them on and beating them.”
Originally published as GWS Giants pondering how to stop Patrick Dangerfield when they face Geelong on Sunday
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