Patrick Dangerfield has provided insight into the role of Geelong’s experienced players, as they look to guide the team through another September campaign.
The Cats captain is preparing for his 28th Finals game this weekend, with Saturday also set to be the eighth Preliminary Final appearance of his incredible career.
On the flip side however Geelong had seven players who made their Finals debut in the win over Port Adelaide, with the Cats finding a healthy blend of youth and experience.
Speaking with Gerard Whateley and Nathan Buckley on SEN Mornings, Dangerfield touched on what it takes to succeed in an AFL Preliminary Final.
“The role of our experienced guys is to provide that calmness and clarity of thought, because it is one thing to talk and preach about those things, but we really have to show it,” Dangerfield said.
“There is a huge amount of pent-up emotion that builds around Prelims and the opportunity that is there, sometimes it can get the better of you and you play at a more frenetic pace.
“It takes experience to understand that I think, so that is probably first and foremost the bits that we need to get right with that clarity and good decision making.
“Combine that with the absolute fierceness that is required to be combative and win the contest, to provide the team an opportunity to play it in our forward half. You try to bring two things that are certainly opposing at times.”
Dangerfield continues to lead the Cats strongly in his second season as captain, putting together another stellar performance in Geelong’s Qualifying Final victory over Port Adelaide.
It has been a season of ebbs and flows for the star midfielder, who missed nearly two months through the middle of the season through injury. Since returning in round 16 Dangerfield has continued to build into the back end of the year, averaging over 22 disposals and seven clearances per game across the past five weeks.
Dangerfield touched on the Cats evolution this year, as they managed their way through a tricky season that has seen every team ride a rollercoaster of momentum.
“We started the season well but we didn't feel like we were the Harlem Globetrotters in those opening seven weeks, we still felt that there was improvement,” Dangerfield said.
“Then when things weren't going as well, we didn't feel like we were horrendous. There was a couple of bad losses in there, but we didn't feel like the world was ending or the season was on a knifes edge.
“Looking at our most recent Finals performances in 2022, this year is a vastly different side and version of the Geelong Cats outfit. We have had different players in slightly different positions, made subtle changes here and there and I see it as an evolution.
“We feel like we have built our best footy at the right time of year.”
