Patrick Dangerfield - potential GOAT?

[demondavey]

Has has a shocker of a week

First the GF, now the infamous ‘Brokeback’ photo together with Bailey Smith

Just saw on ABC they are calling for the same punishment as other homophobic actions this season

Is it possible Danger and Smith miss the first 5 games of 2026?

I don’t think they’ll get rubbed out for that…

 

[CatsDan]

Serious question, why was he drinking coffee before the game?

Was it to come across as casual and relaxed? Almost a way of intimidating the opposition?

I can't figure out why he was in the toilet two minutes into the game.

 

[Partridge]

You have to imagine Dusty playing at 35, you don’t have to imagine Danger playing at 35.

Dangerfield is one of the all time greats. 2017 led the league in contested possessions and clearances, he also kicked 45 goals, wasn’t even his Brownlow year but that was one of the greatest individual seasons of all time. To go along with 8 All Australians.

Absolute superstar.

Eerily similar to Ablett in 2010 with Geelong. Averaged over 30+ touches a game (2nd behind Swan), kicked 44 goals, and likewise didn't win the Brownlow (or even the Geelong Best and Fairest).

 

[Blackas87]

Yet gets 10 touches in a GF….

No doubt he is a champion, but GF efforts like that really lessen his status

He also had 27 possessions, 19 of them contested, 9 clearances in a GF.

He is currently 35 years old, well past his peak/prime, he could have retired younger like others and avoided potential bad games in declining years. But playing beyond your best years should not lessen your status, it should only enhance on what you’ve already accomplished.

 

[demondavey]

He also had 27 possessions, 19 of the contested, 9 clearances in a GF.

He is currently 35 years old, well past his peak/prime, he could have retired younger like others and avoided potential bad games in declining years. But playing beyond your best years should not lessen your status, it should only enhance on what you’ve already accomplished.

He has the ability to dominate games. He did it in the PF. If you’re still rolling out those efforts then it’s expected in the biggest game you do the same. Still, putting him at FF is the coaches directive.

 

[Blackas87]

Eerily similar to Ablett in 2010 with Geelong. Averaged over 30+ touches a game (2nd behind Swan), kicked 44 goals, and likewise didn't win the Brownlow (or even the Geelong Best and Fairest).

Goal kicking midfielders are the biggest stars of the game.

2021 (when I was up and about as Dees fan) Petracca and Bontempelli were the best 2 in the league, Petracca kicked 29 for the year and Bontempelli 31.

Putting into perspective Ablett kicking 44 and Dangerfield 45 is absolutely insane.

 

[Blackas87]

He has the ability to dominate games. He did it in the PF. If you’re still rolling out those efforts then it’s expected in the biggest game you do the same. Still, putting him at FF is the coaches directive.

Yeah that Prelim enhances his legacy, it was his first 30 disposal game since round 1 2022.

I don’t think you can expect a 35 year old well past his prime to back that effort up just because he did it the week before, that game was out of the ordinary for him at this stage of his career.

Still his Grand Final was an absolute stinker, It just doesn’t lessen what he’s already achieved.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Goal kicking midfielders are the biggest stars of the game.

2021 (when I was up and about as Dees fan) Petracca and Bontempelli were the best 2 in the league, Petracca kicked 29 for the year and Bontempelli 31.

Putting into perspective Ablett kicking 44 and Dangerfield 45 is absolutely insane.

Dangerfield has scored 22 goals in 23 finals for Geelong. 6 in 8 finals for Adelaide.

Ablett kicked 20 goals in 25 finals all for Geelong, many as a specialist forward.

Tends to suggest their top end goal scoring acumen was confined to dominating weaker opposition.

 

[Stottzy]

It reminds me of that line in Rocky 5 directed at Tommy "the machine" Gunn.

"He may win a few fights, but Rocky Balboa he'll never be".

Kinda sums up Danger. Always trying (and really trying) to be loved and the peoples champion, but really just an AFL manufactured poster boy.

Good player, but just not on the AFL Mt Rushmore.

 

[CatsDan]

The fact he can drink a coffee before a grand final shows how relaxed he truly is. Not many players in the league could do that.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

The fact he can drink a coffee before a grand final shows how relaxed he truly is. Not many players in the league could do that.

The "ability" to drink coffee before playing shit in a Grand Final wouldn't count as one of the more unique or valuable abilities I have witnessed.

 

[DearJai]

The fact he can drink a coffee before a grand final shows how relaxed he truly is. Not many players in the league could do that.

David Rhys Jones partnered his with a packet of Winnie blues. So relaxed he was horizontal.

Danger not really in the picture for GOAT pre-GF, coffee drinking, relaxed guy imo.

 

[Ian Dunross]

It reminds me of that line in Rocky 5 directed at Tommy "the machine" Gunn.

"He may win a few fights, but Rocky Balboa he'll never be".

Kinda sums up Danger. Always trying (and really trying) to be loved and the peoples champion, but really just an AFL manufactured poster boy.

Good player, but just not on the AFL Mt Rushmore.

Bizarre take.

 

[Blackas87]

Dangerfield has scored 22 goals in 23 finals for Geelong. 6 in 8 finals for Adelaide.

Ablett kicked 20 goals in 25 finals all for Geelong, many as a specialist forward.

Tends to suggest their top end goal scoring acumen was confined to dominating weaker opposition.

I’m talking specifically of the 2017 season where Danger kicked 45 goals. During finals 2017 Danger kicked 7 goals from 3 games, which is 2.3 average which is above his season average of 1.8 goals. Peak Dangerfield was a goal kicking midfield machine.

You’ve brought up career finals goal scoring as a comparison, If you want to look at career averages Danger averaged 1.01 goals a game. In finals it’s 0.91. It’s not a significant drop off that you want to make it out to be. This is not even taking into account that some of Dangerfield’s better goal kicking seasons at Adelaide he was not playing finals while playing finals after his peak at Geelong later in his career he wasn’t kicking goals like he previously did.

That’s like saying Dusty averaged less disposals in finals 22.0 disposals, which is lower than his home and away average of 24.24, That tends to suggest Dusty’s ball winning acumen was confined to dominating weaker opposition.

By the way Dangerfield career disposals average is higher in finals than home and away games.

 

[CatsDan]

The "ability" to drink coffee before playing shit in a Grand Final wouldn't count as one of the more unique or valuable abilities I have witnessed.

Players are often keeled over in the change rooms in nerves. Here's Danger, sipping a coffee and chatting to reporters out on the field. That projects confidence and strength and its what your leaders doing before a big game.

 

[PhatBoy]

Serious question, why was he drinking coffee before the game?

Was it to come across as casual and relaxed? Almost a way of intimidating the opposition?

I can't figure out why he was in the toilet two minutes into the game.

He always drinks coffee before the game to be fair. I’ve seen footage of him doing it in the rooms literally dozens of times. I imagine it would also explain why he went to the can

 

[CatsDan]

He always drinks coffee before the game to be fair. I’ve seen footage of him doing it in the rooms literally dozens of times. I imagine it would also explain why he went to the can

Sounds like food poisonings regarding the toilet.

 

[PhatBoy]

Sounds like food poisonings regarding the toilet.

If he’s anything like me the odd coffee will send him there within the hour

 

[CatsDan]

But there's been a bit of chatter about his coffee. The man can drink a coffee and do what he wants! Has earned that right.

 

[PhatBoy]

But there's been a bit of chatter about his coffee. The man can drink a coffee and do what he wants! Has earned that right.

Yeah I think if that’s the biggest thing people are analysing at the end of that game we are in a better position than I thought to reload and go again.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

I’m talking specifically of the 2017 season where Danger kicked 45 goals. During finals 2017 Danger kicked 7 goals from 3 games, which is 2.3 average which is above his season average of 1.8 goals. Peak Dangerfield was a goal kicking midfield machine.

You’ve brought up career finals goal scoring as a comparison, If you want to look at career averages Danger averaged 1.01 goals a game. In finals it’s 0.91. It’s not a significant drop off that you want to make it out to be. This is not even taking into account that some of Dangerfield’s better goal kicking seasons at Adelaide he was not playing finals while playing finals after his peak at Geelong later in his career he wasn’t kicking goals like he previously did.

That’s like saying Dusty averaged less disposals in finals 22.0 disposals, which is lower than his home and away average of 24.24, That tends to suggest Dusty’s ball winning acumen was confined to dominating weaker opposition.

By the way Dangerfield career disposals average is higher in finals than home and away games.

If you want to compare Danger 2017 with Dusty 2017...

Dangerfield kicked 9 goals in 7 games against fellow top 4 teams in 2017. He had 4 goal assists in those games. So 13 goals + assists in the 7 games v fellow top 4 teams in 2017, Danger's best goal kicking year. 1.9 goals + assists per game.

For comparison, Dusty also kicked 9 goals from 7 games v top 4 teams that year, which was also his best goal kicking year. The big difference was Dusty had 14 goal assists in these games, so 23 goals + assists in 7 games v fellow top 4 teams. 3.3 goals + assists per game.

If you then look at v bottom 4 teams:

Dusty gets 14 goals + assists from 5 games at 2.8 per game.

Danger gets 12 goals + assists from 4 games at 3.0 per game.

So you can see Dangerfield's goal impact goes way down when comparing his games v top 4 opponents compared to v bottom 4 opponents. Dusty's goes up. This is the great difference between the pair over more than just the 2017 season. Dusty averages 2.9 goals + assists in finals once you adjust for the shortened games in 2020. Dangerfield averages 1.7 goals + assists per final on the same adjusted basis.

 

[PetterdHoisted]

If you want to compare Danger 2017 with Dusty 2017...

Dangerfield kicked 9 goals in 7 games against fellow top 4 teams in 2017. He had 4 goal assists in those games. So 13 goals + assists in the 7 games v fellow top 4 teams in 2017, Danger's best goal kicking year. 1.9 goals + assists per game.

For comparison, Dusty also kicked 9 goals from 7 games v top 4 teams that year, which was also his best goal kicking year. The big difference was Dusty had 14 goal assists in these games, so 23 goals + assists in 7 games v fellow top 4 teams. 3.3 goals + assists per game.

If you then look at v bottom 4 teams:

Dusty gets 14 goals + assists from 5 games at 2.8 per game.

Danger gets 12 goals + assists from 4 games at 3.0 per game.

So you can see Dangerfield's goal impact goes way down when comparing his games v top 4 opponents compared to v bottom 4 opponents. Dusty's goes up. This is the great difference between the pair over more than just the 2017 season. Dusty averages 2.9 goals + assists in finals once you adjust for the shortened games in 2020. Dangerfield averages 1.7 goals + assists per final on the same adjusted basis.

Dangerfield just sprays kicks in finals, horrible

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Players are often keeled over in the change rooms in nerves. Here's Danger, sipping a coffee and chatting to reporters out on the field. That projects confidence and strength and its what your leaders doing before a big game.

Are they?

Are they really?

 

[Blackas87]

If you want to compare Danger 2017 with Dusty 2017...

Dangerfield kicked 9 goals in 7 games against fellow top 4 teams in 2017. He had 4 goal assists in those games. So 13 goals + assists in the 7 games v fellow top 4 teams in 2017, Danger's best goal kicking year. 1.9 goals + assists per game.

For comparison, Dusty also kicked 9 goals from 7 games v top 4 teams that year, which was also his best goal kicking year. The big difference was Dusty had 14 goal assists in these games, so 23 goals + assists in 7 games v fellow top 4 teams. 3.3 goals + assists per game.

If you then look at v bottom 4 teams:

Dusty gets 14 goals + assists from 5 games at 2.8 per game.

Danger gets 12 goals + assists from 4 games at 3.0 per game.

So you can see Dangerfield's goal impact goes way down when comparing his games v top 4 opponents compared to v bottom 4 opponents. Dusty's goes up. This is the great difference between the pair over more than just the 2017 season. Dusty averages 2.9 goals + assists in finals once you adjust for the shortened games in 2020. Dangerfield averages 1.7 goals + assists per final on the same adjusted basis.

Not sure why you are bringing up Dusty’s goal kicking and assists, no one is questioning Dusty’s scoring ability. No one is questioning Dusty’s big game performances.

Dangerfield and Dusty are different players with different strengths and weaknesses.

Dangerfield led the league in clearances and contested possessions while kicking 45 goals. It’s not just the goal kicking, the goal kicking is just on top of the elite stuff he was already doing.

So you’re telling me Dangerfield, the best contested and clearance player in 2017 also kicked 9 goals from 7 games against top 4 teams. Thats incredible. Absolute superstar. Thanks for confirming.

Just for comparison Dangerfield from start of his career to his last All Australian year 2020

Home and away: 277 goals from 247 games - 1.1 average

Finals: 22 goals from 20 games - 1.1 average

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Not sure why you are bringing up Dusty’s goal kicking and assists, no one is questioning Dusty’s scoring ability. No one is questioning Dusty’s big game performances.

Dangerfield and Dusty are different players with different strengths and weaknesses.

Dangerfield led the league in clearances and contested possessions while kicking 45 goals. It’s not just the goal kicking, the goal kicking is just on top of the elite stuff he was already doing.

So you’re telling me Dangerfield, the best contested and clearance player in 2017 also kicked 9 goals from 7 games against top 4 teams. Thats incredible. Absolute superstar. Thanks for confirming.

Just for comparison Dangerfield from start of his career to his last All Australian year 2020

Home and away: 277 goals from 247 games - 1.1 average

Finals: 22 goals from 20 games - 1.1 average

You are saying Dangerfield is a midfielder who is also a goal kicking machine. Just from contemporaries you have Martin, Bontempelli, Heeney, Petracca, Gray more or less matching or outmatching him for goals per game as mids. So Dangerfield's goal kicking does not give him any sort of unique claim to GOAT status over a whole host of just contemporary players.