By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
It’s been nothing but Patrick Dangerfield and his return to Adelaide on Friday night in AFL media coverage, which suits Geelong fine.
Coach Chris Scott intimated as much when he looked ahead to the week immediately after seeing off the West Coast Eagles last week.
Geelong conceded as much by making Dangerfield available to the media at the luggage carousel of Adelaide airport on Thursday.
And in the background is the rousing cheer sent up by the Simonds Stadium crowd when the two teams met in round 23 last year as Dangerfield had a shot on goal, anticipating his defection to the Cats.
The question of how Dangerfield will be received by the parochial Crows supporters has been discussed and dissected.
It’s counterbalanced by the professional manner of his exit and for a reason no one can repudiate – family. That and fishing. Oh, and surfing.
Some players respond well when playing against former team-mates, others not so much. It will be interesting to see which type Dangerfield is.
But Scott, who has seen him close up for some time now, thinks professionalism will win out.
“Paddy is a pro and we aspire to be a really professional club so we certainly won’t be trying to manage the situation too much,” Scott said.
“There will be great theatre in his return, for the fans in particular.
“Paddy will be up for it but he will just go about his business I suspect.”
The positive for the rest of the team is that it flies into Adelaide under the radar, with Dangerfield fielding the lion’s share of the spotlight.
This is despite him sharing the lead in the AFL coach’s award with Cats skipper Joel Selwood, not someone to be underestimated.
Adelaide has been considered one of the surprise packets of the season, but the reality of the closeness of the season for most sides has left it vulnerable.
Adelaide’s most meritorious win was over Sydney while losing to the top eight sides North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs.
The Crows need another top-eight scalp to maintain their claim on a top-four finish.
It will be a tough ask against the second-placed Cats with the best percentage in the AFL and the second lowest points against.
These Cats share the scoring opportunities like the premiership versions of 2007, with Tom Hawkins, Steven Motlop, Shane Kersten, Josh Caddy and Dangerfield all averaging at least a goal a game.
Add to that the midfield depth Scott has been developing, with even ruckmen like Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs becoming two-way runners.
Add Caddy, Motlop, Daniel Menzel, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan and even Jimmy Bartel and the midfield depth matches any other side.
