By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong’s coaching staff is eager to see Patrick Dangerfield in action in his first game for his new club against Collingwood on Friday night at Simonds Stadium.
Assistant coach Blake Caracella confirmed that Dangerfield would play but was coy over how much game time he would see.
“He’ll play as much as he can,” Caracella said.
“I’m looking forward to Patty, he’s been fantastic since he came across, his leadership and respect for the Geelong Football Club has been fantastic.”
The former Adelaide Crows midfield star has made an immediate impression at Geelong being elevated straight into the leadership group.
“To see how he combines with the young guys and the older guys who have been here for so long as well is going to be exciting for the club,” Caracella said.
He has a wealth of knowledge about the game and he’s a leader of men and fits right in with the others in the (leadership) group.
“He’s come in since day one and shown the way. He’s taught our players and upholds the values we look highly upon.”
Caracella said the main outcome for Geelong from the NAB Challenge would be seeing how all the new players combine with each other.
“We’ve got four new recruits and a bunch of young fellas and we’ve got three games to work that out,” he said.
“We hope they can all play in one team, we’ve got three games to find out what our best combination is, but the problem is a good one to have.
Round one of the NAB Challenge is not our best team. There are reasons why some players are playing this week and some playing next week.”
He said coaches would be watching to see how Geelong’s beefed up midfield improves in its hard ball gets.
“Collingwood are very good around the ball and we have to make sure we get hold of the ball which we haven’t done well the last three or four seasons.”
Caracella confirmed the club was still hopeful of having captain Joel Selwood available for round one against Hawthorn.
