Patrick Dangerfield - Slowing Down?

[Believe Me]

Patrick Dangerfield at the same time last year was considered the competition's best player, and one of the brownlow favourites. Now, at the same point in the season this year, he looks a shadow of his former self.

Looking at his disposals for the past 5 weeks (27, 26, 27, 29, 28), he is still getting a reasonable amount of ball. However, he looks slower and less damaging that previous seasons. Can we attribute this to his age? Or has he been overshadowed by superior mids like Nat Fyfe and Dustin Martin?

 

[MrDanggazz]

Patrick Dangerfield at the same time last year was considered the competition's best player, and one of the brownlow favourites. Now, at the same point in the season this year, he looks a shadow of his former self.

Looking at his disposals for the past 5 weeks (27, 26, 27, 29, 28), he is still getting a reasonable amount of ball. However, he looks slower and less damaging that previous seasons. Can we attribute this to his age? Or has he been overshadowed by superior mids like Nat Fyfe and Dustin Martin?

Oh boy this’ll be good

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Patrick Dangerfield at the same time last year was considered the competition's best player, and one of the brownlow favourites. Now, at the same point in the season this year, he looks a shadow of his former self.

Looking at his disposals for the past 5 weeks (27, 26, 27, 29, 28), he is still getting a reasonable amount of ball. However, he looks slower and less damaging that previous seasons. Can we attribute this to his age? Or has he been overshadowed by superior mids like Nat Fyfe and Dustin Martin?

Given his form is unrelated to Fyfe and Martin cant see the logic. If he plays tight inside at the clearances you see the stats your seeing from him. The stunning thing was his form playing as a forward, and I haven't noticed him there as much.

 

[wowlace]

Always been an honest plodder. Gets looked after by the umps and the media gloss over his below average kicking.

This is danger.

 

[thecatattack]

No, he's had plenty of moments where he's shown his speed and ability to beat players

 

[Tulip]

Can we attribute this to his age?

What, 28?

Dangerfield is playing in a better midfield than last season and particularly 2016, so his numbers are down.

Furthermore, his 'minor' ankle injury in the pre-season was clearly more severe than Geelong let on and he will need time to get back to fitness.

 

[SA HAWK]

Doesn't look 100% fit to me.

As we saw the last few years with Fyfe when not 100% he was nowhere near as good.

 

[liz]

Doesn't look 100% fit to me.

As we saw the last few years with Fyfe when not 100% he was nowhere near as good.

This. Whenever a player who has shown the ability to play at a high level over a prolonged and sustained period of time has a drop in form, it is almost certainly due to the effects of injury. Similarly, when a previously middle-of-the-pack has a break-out year, it is invariably built on a pre-season where they were able to train at a high level, often the first time unrestricted by injury.

I think viewers and the media underestimate the effect that niggling injuries / lack of injury have on a player's form.

 

[AcuteWhistle]

Doesn't look 100% fit to me.

As we saw the last few years with Fyfe when not 100% he was nowhere near as good.

I see a fair bit of the Cats & he's not right, still very good but not at his best for most of this season.

 

[Pykie]

They should definitely rest him this week to be safe.

 

[Sedat!]

Wish his media profile slowed down

 

[Sttew]

I see a fair bit of the Cats & he's not right, still very good but not at his best for most of this season.

Has definitely been carrying an injury. On Saturday, admittedly against little opposition, we started to see the old Dangerfield. The OP can relax. Dangerfield is far from finished

 

[This Is Anfield]

Reckon, like Martin, that he has been restricted somewhat by a niggling injury.
Dusty rested this week and Danger rested next week... please.

 

[Sttew]

This. Whenever a player who has shown the ability to play at a high level over a prolonged and sustained period of time has a drop in form, it is almost certainly due to the effects of injury. Similarly, when a previously middle-of-the-pack has a break-out year, it is invariably built on a pre-season where they were able to train at a high level, often the first time unrestricted by injury.

I think viewers and the media underestimate the effect that niggling injuries / lack of injury have on a player's form.

This!

One player who comes to mind when reading this post is Shaun Higgins. Written off by so many in recent years, even though he'd copped debilitating injuries. Higgins is now injury free and in Brownlow form

 

[Saint]

Definitely down on output, but I think he's spent less time in the middle as well. Whether that's to make way for others, or because of injury, who knows.

 

[Chuckie357]

Always been an honest plodder. Gets looked after by the umps and the media gloss over his below average kicking.

This is danger.

Yes it’s hard to work out who loves him more, umpires, Melbourne’s media or himself

 

[Milanista28]

I don't believe you.

 

[Fourthawn]

Last year he carried his team. This year he's carrying an injury.

 

[Duskfire]

Geelong have been relying on him a lot less so that also contributes to it. But I agree that he is carrying a niggle or two.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Still playing good football. It's time to turn the internet off and start watching games.

 

[PhatBoy]

He has spent more and more time off the ball this season.

 

[Go the Guts]

Always been an honest plodder. Gets looked after by the umps and the media gloss over his below average kicking.

This is danger.

Lol, classic BF! Was Brownlow medallist from 2 years ago...."always been an honest plodder".

No mate. No.

 

[Plat]

Wish his media profile slowed down

Someone convinced him he's a comedian.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Been playing with a broken leg.

 

[hawkman]

Wish his media profile slowed down

Have barely noticed him the last 6-8 weeks. The 2 years before that it was hard to avoid hearing from him or about him