“Narkle and Dangerfield look really good!”

The shout came from the boundary as assistant coach Matthew Knights chatted with an assortment of reporters after Wednesday morning’s football session at Deakin University.  

Cruising past Knights as he completed a lap of the ground with Narkle in tow, Patrick Dangerfield couldn’t help but interject to assure the media he was in great preseason shape.

The exchange encapsulates Dangerfield’s spritely start to the preseason, with the explosive Cat bouncing back into the club with a pep in his step.

Knights was quick to agree, saying that Dangerfield had managed to cast aside the lingering back injury which troubled him last season.

“There is no question that with the back ailment last year and interruptions that (Dangerfield) had, he would certainly be the first to admit it hindered his play at times,” Knights said.

“But he has come back in amazing shape and some of the explosion he has shown in drills and his capacity to get around guys and feed his teammates has been awesome so far.

“It has been really promising what Pat has delivered on the track. He is an exciting player in full flight and we are lucky to have him.”

The Cats will be thrilled with the proposition of a Dangerfield at the peak of his powers taking the field in 2019.

Despite securing a fourth consecutive All-Australian selection in 2018, Dangerfield took some time to find his feet.

The former Brownlow medalist had just five votes in the Charlie by round 13, before hitting his stride to record 12 votes in the final nine rounds.

Geelong will be hoping he picks up where he left off, with Knights highlighting some key areas of improvement for the midfield to attack this off-season.

“Contested ball is always key and then how you move when the ball moves, your transition element, that’s a part of the game we have to get better at this year,” Knights said.

“With the adaption to the new rules with the six versus six inside 50 at both ends, you’re going to have to be very good once you get the ball inside 50 to keep it in there. That’s something as a midfield group we need to improve on this year.”