Patrick Dangerfield Biography

Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for two games due to a minor hamstring injury.

Geelong announces an unchanged leadership group, with Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart to lead the Cats in 2024 as captain and vice-captain respectively.

Patrick Dangerfield is taken to hospital after suffering a partially collapsed lung and a cracked rib following a heavy collision with Dan Houston in the second quarter of the Cats' clash with the Power.

"He got that knock and then he progressively seized up more and more to the point where, he's a warrior, but it didn't look to us like he could move," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"He kept trying, but it was clear he just couldn't have an impact on the game from pretty early in the second quarter."

Patrick Dangerfield becomes the Cats' first new captain in 12 seasons, succeeding Joel Selwood, with Tom Stewart named vice-captain.

"When Pat arrived, he influenced our club for the better, on the field but most significantly off it. He has and will always strive to positively influence our people and our culture, which is ever evolving. He's found a way to embody who we want to be as a football department," Cats coach Chris Scott said.

"As hard as Tom is on field, is as hard as he works off it. To make himself, his team, and his Club better. He's incredibly well respected by everyone who knows him, plays with him, and plays on him. And that respect is well-earned."

Patrick Dangerfield wins the Gary Ayres Award as the best player of the 2022 finals series.

Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined until after the bye in three weeks as he recovers from a calf injury, the latest in a string of ailments to trouble him in 2022.

Tom Stewart is elevated to vice-captain of Geelong, with longtime skipper Joel Selwood to remain in the role for 2022.

Patrick Dangerfield will serve as vice-captain for a sixth consecutive year and round out the Cats' three-man leadership group for the coming season.

Patrick Dangerfield spends the night in hospital after copping an elbow to the throat.

Dangerfield was collected by a raised elbow from Giants ace Toby Greene, who was attempting to fend off the tackle of his Cats counterpart, before leaving the game in some discomfort. Scans revealed bruising to his larynx but no fracture.

Patrick Dangerfield is handed a three-week ban after pleading guilty for his bump on Jake Kelly which left the Adelaide defender with concussion and a broken nose.

Patrick Dangerfield is named the 2020 AFL All-Australian captain, and becomes just the sixth player in history to be named in eight All-Australian sides.

"It's very, very special. Not in my wildest dreams, when I was first drafted, could I have imagined something quite like this. You dream about it, but for it to come to fruition. It's really special," Dangerfield said.

"It's something that I'm very proud of, especially when you look at the calibre of players and people that are involved in this year's team."

The AFL takes the extraordinary step to immediately amend its ruling on dangerous tackles after Shaun Burgoyne was deemed free to play after his tackle on Patrick Dangerfield.

Burgoyne escaped with a $1000 fine for his tackle where he pinned one arm of Dangerfield in an incident deemed careless conduct, high contact and low impact by Match Review Officer Michael Christian.

The Tribunal guideline section 4.3 (E) relating to rough conduct (dangerous tackles) will change from "arms" to "arm" being pinned.

Joel Selwood will remain as Geelong skipper for a ninth consecutive season in 2020.

Patrick Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs will continue as co-vice captains alongside last year's members Mitch Duncan, Tom Stewart and Zach Tuohy.

Rounding out the seven-man leadership group is Mark O'Connor, who replaces veteran defender Harry Taylor.

Nine players received more than $1 million in the 2019 AFL season, with Dustin Martin and Nat Fyfe the standout earners.

It is believed Martin and Fyfe each earnt more than $1.3 million on 2019 accounts, well clear of the game's other million-dollar players headed by West Coast's Jeremy McGovern, GWS's Jeremy Cameron and Sydney's Lance Franklin.

Others in, or near, the million-dollar club include the Giants' Josh Kelly, Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury, Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield, Dog Marcus Bontempelli, Eagle Andrew Gaff, and Carlton's Patrick Cripps.

Patrick Dangerfield signs a three-year contract extension with Geelong to remain at the club until the end of 2024.

Dangerfield will turn 34 in the final year of his contract.

"Patrick leads by example, (and is) highly motivated to further develop himself and invest in the growth of his teammates," Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said.

"His ability to perform at a consistent, elite level is something our young group aspire to … we are sure he will excite our members and supporter for years to come."

Patrick Dangerfield storms home to win his third Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong's best and fairest for the 2019 season.

Dangerfield polled 268 votes to finish ahead of departing gun Tim Kelly (259.5), who finished runner-up for a second consecutive season and Tom Stewart (251).

"It's very humbling, it's still bittersweet because of the disappointment from that prelim (final)," Dangerfield said while reflecting on the season that was, and could have been.

"Perhaps if it was (my) first you'd appreciate it in a different way, but the longer you play the more you realise that while you're very proud to win it and it's special but it's not what we're all here to do."

Patrick Dangerfield is involved in a spat with Kane Cornes.

Cornes accused Dangerfield of playing up a minor injury when the Cats midfielder hobbled off the field against the Bulldogs in the last quarter of Geelong's win at GMHBA Stadium, and was later seen on crutches.

Post-game, his coach Chris Scott said the spectacle was all part of the "Danger show".

"There's a bit of carry on there and even the coach admitted that after the game. I don't think it's a good look," Cornes told The Round So Far.

"It's probably the only criticism you could give Patrick for his career, but I'm not sure he needs the crutches."

Dangerfield later hit back by questioning Cornes' credibility as a media commentator.

"I think you can get into a position though where you keep trotting out the same line and people start to dismiss your commentary," Dangerfield said.

"There's some in the industry that you value their opinion, and there's plenty of those, and then there's others that you can dismiss pretty quickly, and you don't lose any sleep over."

Joel Selwood will captain Geelong for an eighth season in 2019.

Selwood will be joined by All Australian defender Tom Stewart in Geelong's seven-man leadership group, which sees Scott Selwood fall out.

Dual best and fairest Mark Blicavs has been elevated to co-vice-captain alongside Patrick Dangerfield, the pair retaining their positions on the panel with Mitch Duncan and Zach Tuohy.

2018 deputy vice-captain Harry Taylor relinquishes his title, however remains in the group.

As he returns for his 12th pre-season, Patrick Dangerfield admits he is getting anxious at not having yet won a premiership and believes that impatience is a virtue all young players should have.

"I'm an impatient person, and all our leaders are because they understand that the end is closer than the beginning," Dangerfield said.

"It's important that our younger players aren't patient, they're not waiting for an opportunity. They've got to earn it and that happens now.

"Spots are up for grabs, you put your hand up by training your backside off, executing and forcing the coaches to pick you."

Mark Blicavs wins his second Carji Greeves Medal, edging out Patrick Dangerfield and Tim Kelly by just half a vote in a thrilling count at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

Blicavs polled 234 votes to edge out superstar midfielder Dangerfield (233.5) and mature-age sensation Kelly (233.5), who tied in second place.

Blicavs enjoyed the best season of his 133-game career in 2018, forced into the key defensive post when Harry Taylor went down with a foot injury in round one and with Lachie Henderson unavailable for the first 15 rounds of the season.

"It was something different, a new challenge and something that probably simplified the game for me," Blicavs said.

"We had a really good bunch of guys back there that enjoyed playing together, we were pretty close-knit. It's something that I just want to be a part of going forward."

Patrick Dangerfield admits he has lobbied close friend and unrestricted free agent Luke Dahlhaus in the hope of luring him to the Cats.

"I'm relatively close to Luke (and) I have spoken to him at different stages throughout the season ... I won't lie about that," Dangerfield told 3AW radio.

"I think Luke would be a wonderful player to potentially get into our side, but there's still a bit of work to play out before that could happen."

The full price of recruiting Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson, Gary Ablett and Zach Tuohy will be realised at the end of 2018, with Geelong preparing to be hamstrung in future trading scenarios.

Having not taken a single first-round pick since 2014, the Cats will be forced to activate two first-round selections over the next two drafts to adhere to new AFL rules.

The AFL this week confirmed to AFL.com.au that unless a club has acquired two first-round picks between 2015-2018, it cannot trade away its first-round selection for 2019.

Patrick Dangerfield is full of praise for teammate and draftee Tim Kelly who has impressed in his four games with the Cats.

"As soon as he started training you knew that he wasn't any first-year player," Dangerfield said of Kelly.

"He's such a smooth mover, with the way he moves around the packs (and) how things slow down for him."

Dustin Martin has overtaken Patrick Dangerfield as No.1 on the AFL Player Ratings, as determined by Champion Data, ending a reign by the Cat that lasted almost two years.

Patrick Dangerfield and Steven May headline a 12-person panel on the newly formed Competition Committee.

The committee's main responsibilities will be the game itself, player movement and the structure of the competition.

Geelong coach Chris Scott has called on Cats fans to witness the trio of Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood play together for the first time.

"It's an occasion that I imagine they wouldn't want to miss being there live to see Ablett, Selwood and Dangerfield play for the first time," Scott said.

"There is some excitement that is generated by these historic moments.

"We should seize the moment because there's no guarantee that it's going to last for a long time, those guys are in the backend of their careers."

Patrick Dangerfield is in doubt for the start of the 2018 season after injuring his hamstring late in the first quarter of Geelong's pre-season loss to Essendon in their JLT Community Series clash in Colac.

"I will wait until (Tuesday) and see how it is, it feels pretty good," Dangerfield said.

"I've never done a hammy before, so without having done one, it's hard to say where it's at."

Joel Selwood will captain Geelong for a seventh-straight season and is set to become the longest-serving skipper in the club's 159-year history.

Selwood will lead a seven-man leadership group with Patrick Dangerfield again appointed as vice-captain and key defender Harry Taylor to act as deputy vice-captain.

Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan and Scott Selwood will continue in their leadership roles, while defender Zach Tuohy has been voted into the group in his second year at the club.

Patrick Dangerfield takes over as president of the AFL Players' Association, replacing Matthew Pavlich, who decided to step down after three years in the role.

"It's an honour to be appointed as president and take the baton from Pav and all the incredible work he's done in leading the players through the extensive and successful collective bargaining agreement negotiations over the past few years," Dangerfield said.

"This CBA has achieved some really strong results for players and I'm looking forward to working closely with the board and our player delegates to implement these outcomes and continue to provide strong advocacy for all players."

Patrick Dangerfield says it's a dream come true to be on the same team as Gary Ablett.

"He's just a freak of nature and I must admit I'm a bit like a little schoolboy that's excited to play with a childhood hero, and the majority of our list is in the same boat," Dangerfield said.

Patrick Dangerfield wins his second successive 'Carji' Greeves Medal at Crown Palladium, becoming the 12th Cat in the club's history to claim back-to-back awards.

Dangerfield polled 240 votes to win the prestigious gong, beating out Mitch Duncan (222.5 votes) and Zach Tuohy (219.5).

"I'm very humbled to accept this award and this is an incredible club to be a part of," Dangerfield said.

Patrick Dangerfield says he wishes his former Adelaide teammates the best for the 2017 Grand Final.

"I've got some great mates who are playing in the game, who I hope go really well. It's a mixed emotion, because I'd love to be there, but there are some very deserved people there as well," he said.

They're the best of mates, but at the moment Rory Sloane cannoned into Patrick Dangerfield during the Crows' preliminary final against the Cats, they were the worst of enemies.

As Dangerfield looked to swoop on a loose ball late in the second term and feed the ball out to his skipper, Joel Selwood,

Sloane attacked the contest and collected Dangerfield with his right shoulder, sending both players sprawling.

As the ball was swept out of defensive 50 by the Crows, Dangerfield lay prone with his arm outstretched and had to be helped to his feet by the Geelong doctors before heading from the field to be assessed.

"That hurt," Sloane said of the bone-shaking collision.

"I did my best to stand up, but he's got such a strong body.

"He's such an unbelievable player and I'm such great mates with him. I respect him so much and I love the way he goes about it and I feel for him now.

"We both went in and that's the way we both play our footy and that's what I love about his footy, too."

Dustin Martin is named the AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player.

Martin tallied 1333 votes, more than 500 ahead of Patrick Dangerfield on 776. Out-of-contract Greater Western Sydney gun Josh Kelly rounded out the top three with 416.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says he will speak to Patrick Dangerfield on this thoughts about presenting the Bronwlow Medal this year.

Dangerfield was banned for one game after a reckless tackle on Matthew Kreuzer and is no longer eligible for the medal.

"We certainly don't want to make him feel uncomfortable," McLachlan told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"If Patty said to me 'I just don't want to be there. I'd feel bad' or for whatever reason, I think we'd feel sensible."

Patrick Dangerfield's Brownlow Medal hopes are over after Geelong decided not to appeal his one-match ban for a tackle on Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer that left the Blues ruckman concussed.

Patrick Dangerfield is offered a one-match suspension for his dangerous tackle on Matthew Kreuzer and will be ineligible for the Brownlow Medal if he accepts the charge.

Dangerfield's tackle, which left Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer with concussion, was graded as careless conduct with medium impact to the head.

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the club will now consider the option of appealing Dangerfield's ban.

Patrick Dangerfield believes he will be cleared by the Match Review Panel over the tackle that left Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer concussed.

"I haven't been cited for anything. I felt it was a fair tackle, there was no umpire's call at the time so I don't see an issue with it," Dangerfield said.

"I didn't even know it was an issue until I walked off the ground. Obviously we do media after the game, then I was briefed on it and said, 'I don't know what you are talking about'.

"Then they played me the vision. I said, 'I don't see an issue with it at all'."

Patrick Dangerfield's hopes of a second successive Brownlow Medal appear to be under a cloud with his heavy tackle on Matthew Kreuzer set to be scrutinised by the Match Review Panel.

Kreuzer suffered mild concussion when Dangerfield wrapped the ruckman up in a tackle early in the third quarter, pinned the Blue's arms and drove him into the ground after Kreuzer had disposed of the ball.

The Carlton big man took some time to get to his feet before eventually making his way to the bench, and went down the race for a concussion test.

However, Geelong coach Chris Scott said Dangerfield did not break the rules with his tackle.

"What I saw was he made the tackle, he was unaware whether the ball had spilled out so tried to take the player to ground and roll him in the tackle to avoid the in-the-back free kick, which is exactly the way we coach it," Scott said after the match.

"(It) wasn't a sling, that's for sure, don't think he deliberately drove him into the ground, so on that basis, and based on what we've seen the last couple of years, I would expect that would be fine."

Cats coach Chris Scott hits back at Kane Cornes for suggesting that Patrick Dangerfield had a habit of exaggerating injuries.

"I think it's attention-seeking behaviour," Scott told Fox Footy.

"He probably took it with the spirit in which it was intended and I tend to think it was a comment that was the legacy of the old Port-Crows rivalry rather than anything that reflected Kane's true feelings.

"If there is a tinge of seriousness there, I'll counter with the fact that Patty played through broken ribs earlier in the year without a peep so my experience with him is that he deals with pain pretty well. Maybe we have different experiences and different perspectives."

Port Adelaide premiership midfielder says Patrick Dangerfield has a history of exaggerating injuries after the Brownlow Medalist put in a stirring performance to lead the Cats to victory against Hawthorn despite an reported leg injury.

"He does exaggerate injuries," Cornes told Channel Nine.

"In his time at Adelaide, his teammates had to sit him down and say, 'Look, you do carry on a little bit with your injuries'.

"And he does (carry on), so I'd be surprised if he missed with that injury yesterday."

Isolated inside 50 and unable to contribute defensively after suffering a foot injury early in the game, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield turned in one of the most memorable performances of his illustrious career on Saturday at the MCG against Hawthorn.

He kicked 5.6, with two of his behinds hitting the post, and put in a dramatic effort that added to the Brownlow medallist's growing legend.

"For a long period of the game there it just seemed like he was the most important player on the ground," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"To do that with that sort of limitation just adds to … I'm not prepared to call it the legend just yet but it's getting there, isn't it?"

Patrick Dangerfield formally announces the birth of his first child, George Patrick Dangerfield, via his fishing podcast.

Dangerfield said that while he always said the baby's gender wouldn't matter, he couldn't hide his excitement when he found out on Tuesday night that it was a boy.

"When I saw that little willy, I could have done cartwheels in that room," Dangerfield said.

Patrick Dangerfield is critical of Sam Newman after host of The Footy Show made insensitive remarks against the LGBTIQ community.

"I just think Sam was well off the mark and well out of line," Dangerfield said about Newman's comments.

"It's been a history. It's been something that has been happening for such a long period of time and they will continue to run with it because it will continue to rate."

Newman had been asked by fellow presenter and Geelong hero Billy Brownless if he knew who Jenner was, replying: "I know who he ... it is … oh well what is she? Is it a he or a she? Is it transgender, is it?"

Newman has since issued a brief statement, saying: "I regret the comments I made about Caitlyn Jenner. What I said was not appropriate and I'm sorry to anyone offended."

Dangerfield said he had appeared on the Footy Show once and he felt for players who appeared on the panel during controversial moments like Wednesday night's.

"You certainly don't want to be part of an episode that has commentary around that because it puts you in a really uncomfortable position as a player sitting on the panel," he said.

"But it's really difficult to stand up and say I don't agree with this … right at the moment it is said. The program infrastructure doesn't allow it to happen."

Geelong Chris Scott says Patrick Dangerfield has been playing hurt for weeks after suffering a heavy collision to his ribs from Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead in round four.

"It was certainly sore for the rest of that game and he played that one out," Scott said.

"He's played every week since and he hasn't really missed training.

"I think while he's a little bit sore in the ribs, it's not something that is even close to making him unavailable."

Despite averaging 27.8 disposals over the past month, Dangerfield's impact on games has not been as pronounced as during his Brownlow Medal-winning season in 2016.

Patrick Dangerfield takes a swipe at the amount of rule changes introduced in recent seasons and believes there is not enough consultation with players.

"It's irrelevant what the players think," Dangerfield told Fox Footy.

"Well, it seems to be – we're consulted but the rules get changed regardless, so we'll just adapt, we have to."

And the 26-year-old reigning Brownlow medallist has the full support of West Coast coach Adam Simpson.

"I can understand why the AFL changes a rule for players' safety or talk about umpires throwing the ball up because it helps them when they're more mentally fragile as juniors but when they bring in rule change after rule change I just can't see the benefit of it," Simpson said.

"And we don't get consulted with any fair warning."

Joel Selwood will lead Geelong once again after the club announced at its season launch on Wednesday night he would be Cats captain for the sixth consecutive season in 2017.

The 28-year-old's brother, Scott Selwood, will join him in the eight-man leadership group for the first time with 24-year-old Cam Guthrie also making his debut in the group.

Harry Taylor, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs round out the Cats' leadership group for the year.

Nat Fyfe admits that he felt a tad jealous of Patrick Dangerfield in 2016.

"I have to admit I do like the spice of playing with Patrick," Fyfe said at Fremantle's 2017 season launch.

"I watched on with a bit of jealousy last year the way he went about his footy. I'm pretty intent to renew acquaintances."

Joel Selwood says the Geelong midfield is much more than just Dangerfield and himself.

"It's so unfair to our other midfielders. They're better players than people give them credit for," Selwood said in response to the moniker of 'Dangerwood'.

"We won 17 games last year and it's not just off the back of two players. We think they should get more respect."

Patrick Dangerfield announces that he and wife Mardi are expecting the arrival of their first child in July of 2017.

Dangerfield took to Instagram to reveal the baby news, with voiceover provided by veteran announcer Craig Willis.

"Patrick and Mardi are proud to announce a new Dangerfield for 2017, and I'm feeling Craig is the perfect name," Willis said.

"This ultrasound has been brought to you by the obstetrician, in association with the bedroom."

Patrick Dangerfield has called on the AFL to show the players more respect after League CEO Gillon McLachlan chose not to attend their annual two-day conference.

AFL Players Association delegates gathered in Torquay in western Victoria amid increasingly tense pay negotiations and the possibility of a pre-season strike.

McLachlan declined an invitation to attend, with executives Ray Gunston and Andrew Dillon sent instead to present to the AFLPA board.

"It's been difficult to negotiate (and) the AFL have been really difficult in coming to the table … they haven't spoken to the PA in the past month," Dangerfield said.

"So to get this opportunity today was wonderful, albeit without the CEO in attendance.

"There were some disappointed players who flew across the country to be here yesterday and today, and we were perhaps looking for a little bit more respect than what we got."

Patrick Dangerfield says the players have not ruled out a strike during the JLT Community Series if the collective bargaining agreement is not resolved by February.

Dangerfield, a member of the AFLPA board, said there was a chance players wouldn't take part in the pre-season competition if a resolution could not be reached.

"It's a chance. I'm not saying it's a definite possibility but certainly if nothing gets done then we need to look at all avenues in order to secure a deal," he said.

Patrick Dangerfield adds another award to his long list of 2016 individual accolades, claiming his first 'Carji' Greeves Medal in his maiden season at Geelong, becoming the fifth Cat to win the Brownlow-Carji double in the same season.

Dangerfield was named as the Cats' best in eight of his 24 games, polling 253 votes to beat out skipper and All Australian teammate Joel Selwood (238).

"It's incredible and it's a proud moment for me," Dangerfield said upon accepting the award.

"It's been a whirlwind 12 months but what an incredible football club to play for.

"The most important thing when you move from one club to another is that you want to endear yourself to your teammates and I tried to learn the Geelong way as quickly as possible."

Retiring champion Corey Enright, who earned his sixth All Australian selection in his 17th and final season, rounded out the podium (234.5).

Patrick Dangerfield dedicates his 2016 Brownlow Medal to fellow Geelong great Paul Couch in an emotional tribute.

Couch, the 1989 Brownlow winner, died on March 5 of a heart attack.

"I think halfway through the count, when Paul Couch was replayed and the conversations around how Paul contributed to the game, it hit me what it would be like to be a Brownlow Medallists.

"So Couchy, this one is for you mate."

Patrick Dangerfield caps off his glittering season with the most prestigious individual award of all, breaking records to win the 2016 Brownlow Medal.

Dangerfield polled a record 35 votes to win from Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Parker (26) and Richmond star Dustin Martin (25), breaking away in a thrilling finish at Crown Palladium.

The 26-year-old had a four-vote lead going into round 22 and he sealed the win with two votes against the Brisbane Lions, taking his total to an unassailable 32.

To underline the greatness of his season, he polled three votes in round 23 to finish on a record total, surpassing Collingwood winner Dane Swan's 34 votes from 2011.

His margin of nine votes was also a record dating back to 1977 when both field umpires awarded 3-2-1 votes. Gary Ablett's eight-vote win in 2009 was the previous highest.

Dangerfield also polled in 15 games to set a new mark and matched the record nine best on grounds set by 1994 winner Greg Williams and matched by Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe last year.

"You think of the past players to win the medal and what it actually means," Dangerfield said.

"My mind is racing now, as is my heart, so it's hard to articulate it properly, but it's something I'll look back on with great pride."

Patrick Dangerfield wins his first AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player award after a brilliant first season with the Cats.

Dangerfield was moved as he accepted the Leigh Matthews Tropy from the former Hawthorn champion and Collingwood and Brisbane premiership coach.

“I”m very grateful to have been awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy,” Dangerfield said.

“To be named most valuable player by the guys I play against every week is incredibly humbling and an honour I’ll never forget.”

Frustrated Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has delivered a brutal assessment of his team.

In the wake of Geelong's 38-point loss to the Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium on Friday night – its second in succession following a round 14 defeat to lowly St Kilda – Dangerfield expressed disappointment that the premiership contender had been unable to perform consistently.

"Unless we've got an even spread of 22 even contributors, we're a mediocre side," Dangerfield said.

"We haven't proven anything so far this season. We've played some really good footy but, geez, we've played some really poor footy as well."

Seb Ross goes head to head with Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield, outgunning the red-hot Brownlow favourite through the middle of the ground with 33 disposals to Dangerfield's 29 in the Saints' thrilling 3-point win over Geelong.

"Seb is building his career, he's a guy that works exceptionally hard at his footy so he's starting to get rewarded," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

Patrick Dangerfield is now the No. 1 player in the competition, according to the Schick AFL Player Ratings.

With Dangerfield overtaking injured Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe to reach top spot, he becomes only the fourth individual to do so since the Player Ratings began being recorded in 2010.

Patrick Dangerfield collects a career-high 48 disposals against North Melbourne, including 10 centre clearances and 23 contested possessions.

Rory Sloane talks about the day his friend and former teammate Patrick Dangerfield informed him that he would be leaving the Crows.

"It was a nice moment between us both. We just talked about it and reflected on the times we played together," Sloane said.

''As he let us know, that's a decision he made for his family and his partner Mardi. We completely understand it.

"He's given us eight years of very good service to the club and we respect him for that.''

Adelade coach Don Pyke says there'll be no special focus on Patrick Dangerfield's return to Adelaide to face his former side.

"We will treat him as another player and an opponent we want to beat," Pyke said.

Sam Jacobs says Adelaide will treat former teammate Patrick Dangerfield as just another player when the Crows meet Geelong in Adelaide this week.

"I'm sure there will (be sledging)," Jacobs said.

"But it will probably be no different than every week.

"Obviously it's common, players change clubs all the time. He's just another bloke who has done that."

Patrick Dangerfield says he is unfazed by a return to Adelaide next week.

"For me this week and for the team it is going to be business," Dangerfield said.

"We go there to get four points. We're going there for one reason and one reason only."

Patrick Dangerfield sets a new record for most disposals on debut for a new club, tallying a career-best 43 disposals in the Cats' season opener against Hawthorn.

"He's worked really hard to fit into our program. He's a humble young man (despite) being as good a player as he is," Cats coach Chris Scott said.

"He hasn't tried to come in and influence the way we go about things too much, he just wants to play his part.

"It was a pretty good part today. Irrespective of how good a player you are, when you go to a new club you want to earn your stripes."

Lin Jong says he wants to model his game on explosive Cats midfielder Patrick Dangerfield.

"The way he uses his speed is something I'd really like to do," Jong said.

"The coaches tell me to use my speed as much as I can and break away from packs a bit more.

"Patrick is such a great player and I aspire to be a better player and keep improving, so I like to adapt my game to his."

Patrick Dangerfield plays his first game in Geelong colours during the Cats' NAB Challenge clash against Collingwood, amassing 28 disposals and 3 goals.

"It was good. [You're] always rusty the first game," Dangerfield said.

"Since the end of my last game until now it really does feel like it's gone in the blink of an eye. You have to enjoy every moment, and I certainly enjoyed tonight."

Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs are new additions to Geelong's leadership group for 2016.

The trio join existing leaders Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Tom Hawkins while veterans Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie have stepped down to make room for the new members.

Selwood will be captain for the fifth successive season while Taylor remains vice-captain.

Ollie Wines says he sees himself developing into the Power's version of Patrick Dangerfield by the end of his new contract in 2018.

"I love the way how Patrick Dangerfield goes about it; I don't think I'll ever be as quick as him, I think I've got the power to be able to get out of stoppages," Wines said.

"He also gets the ball around the ground and is able to move. He's someone I watch a bit now and try to model my game a little bit on."

Patrick Dangerfield says his decision on where to play in 2016 was always between two clubs, Adelaide and Geelong.

"If I was going to come back, it was going to be to Geelong, where my family are, where the place that I love is and a really successful club," Dangerfield said.

"I couldn't have fronted to them (Adelaide teammates) and said 'oh, I'm leaving but it's not necessarily to go home, it's just to go to another club based in Melbourne.' It wouldn't be the morally right thing to do."

New Crow Troy Menzel will wear the No.32 at his new club, a number previously worn by Patrick Dangerfield and Brownlow medalist Mark Ricciuto.

"The No.32 has obviously been worn by some champions of the Adelaide Football Club," Menzel said.

"I'm very excited and honoured to receive the jumper, and I can't wait to get stuck into pre-season training with the boys on Monday."

Taylor Walker engages in a war of words with tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios via Twitter, with Patrick Dangerfield also offering his thoughts during the exchange.

Adelaide and Geelong complete a deal that sends Patrick Dangerfield to Geelong in exchange for picks 9 and 28 in the 2016 national draft as well as young midfielder Dean Gore.

In addition, the Cats also gain Adelaide's third-round draft pick, currently No.50.

Crows head of football David Noble said the trade provided more compensation than would have been available under free agency rules, which he said left affected clubs with little room to move.

"All along we were intent on doing what was in the best interests of our club, and we have been able to deliver the best possible outcome," Noble said.

"I would also like to acknowledge Geelong for the professional manner in which these negotiations were handled."

Patrick Dangerfield says it will be nice to pull on the jumper of the team he supported growing up after his trade to the Cats was completed on day one of the 2015 NAB AFL Trade Period.

"I sit here now a very, very happy Geelong player," Dangerfield said.

"It is combining the two things that I love, which is family and obviously football has been a huge part of my life, so I'm lucky enough that Geelong is 45 minutes from home."

Patrick Dangerfield's manager Paul Connors has called on Adelaide to settle for a free agency compensation pick, No.14 overall, rather than trying to fight for a better deal with Geelong.

"Patty Dangerfield has given eight years of wonderful service and I think we should respect that he's coming home and it's not for money," Connors said.

"Everyone's got the ability to do what's best for themselves and that's (a decision) for the Adelaide footy club and they think a trade might be best."

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the club will not be overpaying for the services of Patrick Dangerfield.

"Often there is a premium associated with bringing players in from other clubs but I think Geelong's success in the modern era is based around an egalitarian approach to the TPP (Total Player Payments)," Scott said.

"And whatever we do over the next year or two, we won't be compromising on that."

Patrick Dangerfield will leave the Adelaide Football Club as its 2015 best and fairest, having claimed his first Malcolm Blight Medal.

Rory Laird's enormous development this year saw him finish runner-up, 22 votes behind Dangerfield.

Small forward Eddie Betts finished third, ruckman Sam Jacobs fourth and Rory Sloane rounded out the top five.

After winning the Crows' best and fairest award for 2015, Patrick Dangerfield says a desire to raise a family in Geelong was the primary reason for his decision to leave Adelaide.

"Football is a huge part of my life but it isn't my life, it isn't the number one thing that drives me – that of course is family," Dangerfield said in his acceptance speech.

"Over the journey [club personnel] become far more than just work colleagues and acquaintances, they really become part of your family.

"So to turn my back on that is incredibly difficult, it certainly brings up a huge range of emotions.

"Standing here in front of everyone, it's very difficult because I understand it's a decision not too many people were too pleased about but I'd hope that they understand it's [made] in the right manner.

"I've made it in the best interests of myself and Mardi and the family we would like to start and head back to.

"There's a certain amount of selfishness you have to have when you're making a decision such as this."

Adelaide ceo Andrew Fagan has all but confirmed the Crows will match any offer made for restricted free agent Patrick Dangerfield to ensure that the club gets the best possible deal.

"We will do everything necessary and take every decision necessary to achieve the maximum and optimal compensation for the Adelaide Football Club," Fagan said.

"I can't be any clearer than that.

"We've got a pretty firm view of what we're after – I think it's inappropriate for me to articulate that in this forum."

Adelaide confirms that Patrick Dangerfield wishes to pursue free agency and return home to Victoria.

Dangerfield is widely tipped to sign with the Cats given the club's proximity to his hometown Moggs Creek. AFL.com.au believes a five or six-year deal is on the table worth $800,000 a year.

Adelaide now has the chance to match any offer the Cats make and CEO Andrew Fagan said the club would consider its options.

"Whilst disappointing, we understand that Patrick's decision has been made for personal reasons," Fagan said.

"We will now consider our options, however, our members and supporters should rest assured that in doing so we will make decisions and take action that is in the best interests of our football club.”

Travis Boak knows what it's like to be in Patrick Dangerfield's shoes, and the Port Adelaide skipper has defended the Crows star's decision to walk out on his club.

"I don't think people can criticise Paddy for leaving. I think he's given great support and great service to the Adelaide Football Club in the time he's been there," Boak told Triple M.

"He's helped them to where they are today and we saw on Friday night what he's done for the club. He's given everything for the club really.

"Paddy wants to go back home and be closer to family – you can't criticise players for that."

Patrick Dangerfield says there is no pressure coming from the Crows as the club and the football world wait for confirmation of his playing future.

Dangerfield is a restricted free agent and could cross to the Cats in next month's exchange period, but the Crows will also have the opportunity to match the offer placed in front of him by Geelong.

Such a move would lead to the Crows and Cats needing to organise a trade, which would likely be more valuable to the Crows than the single first-round compensation pick they would have been given under free agency.

Dangerfield, who is tipped to win the Crows' best and fairest on Saturday and is among the favourites for next month's Brownlow Medal, arrived at Tuesday night's Virgin Australia AFL All Australian ceremony but remained tight-lipped.

"It's not something I'm really focused on tonight. I'm just going to enjoy the night. Obviously it's been a long season but to be honest I'm not going to be speaking about it tonight," he said.

The dynamic midfielder said the interest had not weighed him down during one of the most consistent and brilliant seasons of his eight-year career with the Crows.

"I think the most important thing during the season is playing good footy and preparing as best you possibly can, so obviously the season is now finished and it is time to come to a decision but it's not something that I'm really concerned about tonight," Dangerfield said.

For the second successive year, the AFL's players have named Fremantle star Nat Fyfe the most valuable in the competition.

Fyfe, the Brownlow Medal favourite, polled 1455 votes to win the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players' Association's MVP ahead of North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein (578) and Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield (364).

Fyfe, 23, is only the third player in the award's 33-year history to win in successive years, following five-time winner Gary Ablett (2007-09, 2012-13) and Michael Voss (2002-03).

"It's such an honour to have been awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy two years in a row. Having the respect of your peers is one of the highest accolades we can hope to achieve as players – I'm truly humbled," Fyfe said.

Adelaide insists it didn't make the call to exclude Patrick Dangerfield from its official 2016 calendar and categorically denies his omission is a sign he'll depart the club.

Sam Jacobs, Eddie Betts, Rory Sloane and skipper Taylor Walker feature on the cover of the calendar but restricted free agent Dangerfield – who is widely speculated to be considering a move to Geelong in October – is missing.

Dangerfield is Adelaide's best-known player but a Crows spokesman said the club had no say over who featured in the calendar.

Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield has opened a hornets' nest, questioning the validity of fierce rivals Port Adelaide boasting a bigger membership.

"It's interesting, because I think out of that 54, there's about 10,000 pet members that Port have," Dangerfield joked on radio FIVEaa.

"There are probably plenty of three-game members that Port Adelaide have.

"We're more interested in the whole season - the 11 home games.

"I'm not sure those statistics are perfectly right."

Patrick Dangerfield met with his manager Paul Connors at an Adelaide restaurant on Tuesday night, but he maintains he still hasn't decided whether he'll play at Adelaide next year or not.

"We went out for dinner last night, but in terms of meeting to discuss next season, that meeting hasn't happened," Dangerfield said.

"It wasn't the meeting where I've made my decision … it's honestly been the last thing on my mind."

As the Cats prepare to take on the Crows in round 14, Geelong coach Chris Scott says he won't be making any controversial comments regarding the possibility of Patrick Dangerfield joining the club in 2016.

Scott said he understood that Adelaide supporters would be disappointed if they lost a key player and emphasised that Geelong was not driving the discussion linking the club to several out of contract players from other clubs.

"It is unfortunate from our perspective we seem to be the ones linked not only with Paddy, but a range of players," Scott said.

"As we have done all season we'll keep being disciplined with our responses.

"We empathise with the way they feel, [and] because of that it's important we don't add any more fuel to the fire."

Patrick Dangerfield says he is no closer to making a decision on his future despite the recent signings of teammates Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas.

"I love playing here, I love the environment, but I haven't made a decision and I don't think I need to at this stage of the season," Dangerfield said.

"It's certainly a great sign for the footy club that both those players have signed on, they're both club champions and outstanding players and individuals … but it's not something I'm going to be rushed into."

Patrick Dangerfield's manager says his client will only leave Adelaide if the temptation of returning to his hometown becomes too great.

"I would've thought he's not motivated by money, he's motivated by winning premierships," Connors told Channel Nine.

"The only lure that probably would get him home would be Moggs Creek, to the family.

"That'll play out over the next four months."

Patrick Dangerfield says he still isn't giving his contract status much thought, choosing instead to focus his energies on restoring Adelaide to a finals team.

"It's not something I've really thought about, to be honest," Dangerfield told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Tuesday.

"My focus each and every week has been on the upcoming opposition.

"We've spent plenty of time in the football wilderness, we haven't played finals for a few years and that's our goal, that's our aim."

Patrick Dangerfield says he is happy to cop a hard tag week in week out as long as the Crows keep winning.

After enduring a hard physical tag from former teammate Bernie Vince, Dangerfield told Adelaide radio station 5AA that he was annoyed with his poor performance rather than the hard tag.

"It's frustrating, but you're not really frustrated in Bernie or what Bernie is doing - it's more frustrated in yourself that you're not playing the way you know that you can," Dangerfield said.

"That was disappointing for me on the weekend. I want to play better than that but at the same time I'll take that every week if we win by five goals."

Once a fan favourite at the Crows, Bernie Vince finds himself the target of boos at Adelaide Oval after his use of physical tactics to subdue Patrick Dangerfield.

"I don't like referring back to when I played in the dark old days, but you'd never even think of doing that stuff because you would have went off the ground on a stretcher," Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said of Vince after the game.

Patrick Dangerfield says he is yet to make up his mind about his playing future as speculation mounts about him leaving Adelaide.

"I understand people want to know, but I don't have a clear answer at the moment," Dangerfield told Adelaide radio station FiveAA.

"What I will say is I am totally committed to our football club. This season for us is all about what we can do as a collective."

Patrick Dangerfield is ranked by his fellow players as the seventh best in the AFL.

Power skipper Travis Boak, who was also targeted by Geelong when he came out of contract in 2012, says Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield is set for a frustrating year in 2015 if he pays attention to the speculation about his future.

"We can say that you don't really think about it too much, but I think in Adelaide it gets talked about a fair bit," Boak said.

"It's a pretty small town and I'm sure it'll be in the paper most days over here.

"For Paddy, you've got to try and put it in the back of your mind and just go out and play footy and enjoy it."

Richard Douglas says he believes Crows teammate Patrick Dangerfield will resist the temptation to head home back to Victoria at the end of the season.

"Paddy's engaged now and he's probably going to be looking to start a family in the next few years, so there's obviously that attraction there to have some free babysitters, which would be nice for him to save some coin," Douglas said.

"It's always there but at the end of the day it comes down to whether you want to be part of a successful organisation and we feel we're building towards that, and Paddy's a key part of that, and he knows that.

"Hopefully he hangs around, and we're quietly confident that he will."

Crows football manager David Noble says there is no reason to panic about the contract status of star midfield duo Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane.

"We are in constant dialogue with Rory's manager and with Paddy's, and we're very comfortable with where we are at with both of those guys at the moment," Noble told Crocmedia.

"We don't see that there's necessarily anything to panic about, we're really comfortable, in that we've got a bunch of other guys coming out of contract as well."

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood says he doesn't think the Cats would compromise their approach to player payments to attract a star free agent such as Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield.

"I wouldn't think they would do that. I think they would stay pretty strong to what they believe in and what they have done in the past," Selwood said.

Adelaide coach Phil Walsh says he will continue to play a straight bat to the feverish media speculation about star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield's future.

"People read into these things whatever they like, but I'm very comfortable with the situation of all our players at this footy club," Walsh said.

"I don't answer it, (I will) just say, 'Look that will look after itself'. Basically, that's what will happen."

Speculation behind Patrick Dangerfield's possible departure from Adelaide increased further on Wednesday when he was overlooked by Crows coach Phil Walsh for the club's captaincy in favour of Taylor Walker.

Adelaide names Taylor Walker as the club's captain for 2015, ahead of out-of-contract pair Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield who served as co-captains in 2014.

Adelaide coach Phil Walsh says Walker epitomised his team-first philosophy.

"Since my first conversation with Taylor until (today) … he's all about making the team better," Walsh said.

"Early days I identified that he had a great influence around the group – you could see that straight away.

"When I came back after Christmas … Taylor's attributes shone even further."

Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane are yet to commit to Adelaide beyond 2015, but the pair are still in the running for the club's captaincy.

Adelaide head of football David Noble said the club would choose the best possible captain, regardless of their contract status.

"I don't see that as an issue at all; I think you put your best people in place that are going to lead your club," Noble said.

"That's what we're expecting them to do.

"Fairly soon after Christmas something will be presented to the board and that needs to be ratified and then we'll let everyone know."

Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson believes Patrick Dangerfield will re-sign with the Crows, ignoring free agency in the process.

"I think so, I hope so… the senior coaches don't like free agency because they can obviously lose their best payers but I think Paddy will stay," Sanderson said on SEN radio.

"That would be my gut feel. But you never know, stranger things have happened."

Daniel Talia has been promoted into the club's leadership group for the first time, replacing Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas.

Talia joins 2014 members Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker and Scott Thompson in the six-man group to lead in 2015.

"Each member of the group possesses a unique leadership style and as a group they complement each other well," Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said.

"All of them have a strong presence and what is best for the team sits at the forefront of their minds."

Patrick Dangerfield says he believes Nathan Van Berlo is still the clear leader at the Crows.

"I have been really strong on the fact that Nathan has been a terrific leader and continues to be with our football club," Dangerfield said.

"We have a great group of young leaders at the club. But Nathan's standing within our team is certainly unquestioned within our four walls."

Patrick Dangerfield says playing alongside some of the game's biggest stars in the International Rules Series has been an extraordinary experience.

"To sit down with Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt, they are champions of the game and have been for the best part of 10-plus years," Dangerfield said.

"It's been a real eye-opener and something I have really enjoyed."

Adelaide head of football David Noble says the Crows adamant they will not consider trading Patrick Dangerfield.

"There's no interest in Patrick Dangerfield; he's not on the table, he's not going to be," Noble said.

"Those stars are really hard to develop, they're hard to find and you just don't let them go. It's just not going to happen."

Adelaide say Patrick Dangerfield is not on the trade table despite Melbourne revealing it is prepared to offer picks two and three in the 2014 NAB AFL draft for the Crows star.

"If there is the potential of getting someone like Patrick Dangerfield we would look to get the deal done," Melbourne football operations manager Josh Mahoney said.

"We think that if that does play out, first of all Patrick says he's going to leave the Adelaide Football Club, and that certainly has to play out yet and Adelaide have to agree to do a deal.

Adelaide head of football David Noble, however, says he would be stunned if Dangerfield was not still at the club in 2015.

"We're really comfortable with where he is and the indications that he's given to us is that he's very settled and he wants to stay," Adelaide head of football David Noble said.

"I'd be staggered if Patrick came to us within the next fortnight and said that's where his thinking (moving to Melbourne) was."

Patrick Dangerfield's manager Paul Connors says his client is happy at Adelaide and will not likely be traded from the club.

"I think he's pretty happy at Adelaide at the moment," Connors said.

"I don't think the Crows would entertain anything. You've got to be loath to trade away just terrific players like that."

Jordan Murdoch wins the 2014 Grand Final sprint, ending Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield's three-year hold on the title.

Dangerfield decided not to compete in the 2014 race, paving the way for a new winner and Murdoch took his chance.

Melbourne coach says he would be keen on exploring a trade for Patrick Dangerfield when the star Crows midfielder becomes a restricted free agent at the end of 2015.

"We would absolutely be interested in him but he's a contracted player. It gives you an insight into the future," Roos said.

"You are going to see as early as this year or next year with someone like Dangerfield, clubs trading them a year before free agency.

"There is no question it is going to happen. When exactly will it happen? I don't think anyone can be certain but you can sense clubs (with players about to become free agents) are a little bit on edge."

Matt Priddis has won the 2014 Brownlow Medal, capping a fairytale story of persistence for the former mature-age rookie who was overlooked in four drafts.

Priddis, who missed selection in the 2014 All Australian team, polled 26 votes and had the medal secured after 22 rounds, polling two votes in the final round to overtake ineligible Fremantle star Nat Fyfe.

Fyfe, who was suspended twice through the season, polled 25 votes and led the vote tally between rounds 20 and 22.

He polled votes in 13 games to edge out Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak and Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, who entered the final round as medal chances on 21 votes each, but failed to poll.

"This doesn't sit too well with me, I'm a pretty shy kind of guy," Priddis said.

"I don't see myself with the likes of some of the Brownlow medallists of the past, so it's a little bit daunting, but something I'm obviously very proud of.

"My family have been absolutely super … I would not be standing here without their love and support. They've been absolutely amazing."

Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto says the club must ensure it develops a suitable environment and culture to convince star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield to remain at the club at the end of 2015.

"We have to get everything right so that it's a fair call to ask him to stay long term,' Ricciuto said about Dangerfield.

"We'll get the contract right, we'll pay [Dangerfield] what he needs to be paid, but we've got to get the culture, environment and everything right so that he can win a premiership, because he wants to win one."

Patrick Dangerfield has dismissed speculation about his playing future in Adelaide.

"I understand it [speculation], but it's ridiculous because ... it's a full 12 months away," he said.

"We love playing at the club.

"In terms of discussions regarding my contract, Sloaney's and Tex's, it's premature."

After being co-captains for Adelaide in 2014, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane back Nathan van Berlo to return as skipper in 2015.

"The work he's done this season without playing a game and while also managing the disappointment of knowing that the chances of him playing were really low – I couldn't speak more highly of him," Dangerfield said.

"He's a terrific guy, but an unbelievable leader. While you read and hear the external calls from outside the footy club, internally there is no doubt about who is the best person to lead the Adelaide Football Club.

"It would just be nice if people (outside the club) can follow the same line as the players, because we firmly believe Nathan is the right man for the job."

Daniel Talia is crowned the Crows' 2014 club champion, finishing strongly in a thrilling count to claim his first Malcolm Blight Medal.

Talia shared the lead with Patrick Dangerfield entering the final round on 72 votes, but his stellar performance on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt in round 23 saw him clinch the award (79 votes) from Rory Sloane (77).

Dangerfield finished third (76) and only nine votes separated the top five, which was rounded out by Brodie Smith (72) and Sam Jacobs (70).

Patrick Dangerfield will enjoy this weekend's bye to rest his battered body but the Adelaide superstar says concerns over his fitness have been overblown.

"It'll be nice to have the weekend off rather than getting bashed around," Dangerfield said.

"You get a niggle here and there most weeks but it just seems to have been blown out of proportion most weeks throughout the season.

"It's quite similar to last season and the season before that.

"I've had a bit of a dodgy ankle for a majority of the season so when you have that, you might tweak it during the game and [with] the amount of media coverage that each game has now, everything just gets magnified."

Patrick Dangerfield will spend the week in a moon boot but is confident he will be fit to play against Collingwood in round nine after the bye.

"I've been in [the moon boot] for a few days. It just takes the pressure off the ankle to give it a bit of a rest - the bye's come at a good time," Dangerfield said.

"I tweaked it a few weeks ago and then stepped on Jack Grimes' foot in the third quarter and it didn't get any better, unfortunately.

"We're lucky this week that I can just put it in the boot and hopefully it'll give me a bit of time to rest and then get ready to fire against Collingwood."

Patrick Dangerfield has given his strongest indication yet that he will turn his back on free agency next year and recommit to Adelaide.

"I've been here for a while now. Your family really does become the players around you, because you spend so much time with them," Dangerfield said.

"And whenever I go home now it's great to catch up with mates, but it's not like you can cruise back on a Tuesday or Thursday and catch up with a few friends. They've got work and study and that sort of thing.

"I've certainly enjoyed my time (at the Crows) a lot more, the longer I've been here."

The open wound that spread across David Armitage's knee was so gruesome that his St Kilda teammates couldn't look at it when they visited him in hospital last week.

This was after the 25-year-old saw the surface of his left kneecap after splitting open the skin below the joint when he crashed into Patrick Dangerfield's boot in round four.

There's not much about the injury that isn't stomach churning - from the exposed patella that was immediately stitched, leaving Armitage play to out the game with bits of soil and grass inside his knee, to the infection that developed and the two procedures needed to kill the germs.

"I went to lunge to tackle Dangerfield and I remember Jimmy coming the other way and he sort of clipped my head and at the time, I didn't think too much about my knee, I was more worried about my head," Armitage said.

"I hopped up off the ground and the docs were there at that stage and asked if I was OK, I said 'Yes, but I've had a head knock and my knee is starting to hurt.'

"I looked down and the doc saw my reaction to what I'd just looked at.

"I could see a big open wound; it wasn't bleeding or anything but it was right down to the flashing of the kneecap and it was pretty gruesome."

Coming out of contract at the end of 2015, Patrick Dangerfield says he needs to be convinced that Adelaide is heading in the right direction before signing a new contract.

"When I do [re-sign] it will be a decision based on success not on money, that's for sure,'' Dangerfield said.

''I'm one of those players who want to know the direction of the club. I'm always asking David Noble (the Crows list manager and strategic boss) about where we are at."

Adelaide list manager David Noble says the club is confident they can retain the services of Patrick Dangerfield beyond 2015.

"We are comfortable with our club's relationship with Patrick, his family and his management, Noble said.

"We know he is committed to our football club."

Rory Sloane wins his first Malcolm Blight Medal as the Crow's best and fairest, capping a sensational personal season for the 23-year-old who averaged a career high 24 disposals a game.

Sloane finished just three votes ahead of 2010 winner Richard Douglas and 11 clear of Patrick Dangerfield and Daniel Talia.

"It was a tough year for the club and you always want to help your teammates as much as you can and I'm glad I did that," Sloane said.

"I always thought 'Dougy' was going to win this for sure for the second time.

"I'm very humbled having the year I've had and receiving the gold jacket and Malcolm Blight Medal, but you want to help your team get to finals and that's purely my goal for next season."

Rory Sloane says he is amazed at some of the things teammate Patrick Dangerfield does on the field.

"I haven't seen anyone, sort of play like him and do things that he does," Sloane told SEN radio.

"Some of the things that he does, like ripping balls out of packs, getting up with guys on him and trying to run away is just, it's almost cheeky.

"I don't know anyone else who tries to do that and he can do it, he gets away with it and he's got that much talent and I think he's slowly figuring out the balance you need to have to be a very good midfielder."

Nathan Van Berlo says media articles suggesting Patrick Dangerfield would be better suited as Crows captain does not faze him.

"To be honest it doesn't affect me whatsoever – people are entitled to their opinions and it's been like that for me the whole way through," van Berlo said.

"It's probably made me grow a thicker skin and realise that it's the people around the footy club, my teammates that matter most."

Brenton Sanderson says losing Patrick Dangerfield to a shoulder injury will impact the team psychologically.

"He's a leader of our team…he does things in a game which (not only) send a message to the rest of his teammates, but also the opposition," Sanderson said.

"No one can replace Dangerfield."

Sports medico Dr Peter Larkins believes Patrick Dangerfield runs the risk of aggravating his injured shoulder if he plays this week.

"To play, he would have to have it strapped like he did on the weekend and he would require some pain relief either with tablets or likely an injection," Dr Larkins said.

"The risk is he could play without pain and strapping but he could make it more severe and therefore be missing more time in the future.

"If he gets another hit of a similar nature even with strapping on there, it could still pop out further.

"Whilst it's a grade two tear, you can have a grade four tear where it's completely dislocated."

Patrick Dangerfield faces up to three weeks on the sidelines after spraining his AC joint in the Crows' match against Collingwood.

"He could play next week, but the reality is that he could be out for two to three weeks. That's probably what a sprained AC joint is," Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said after the match.

"But we won't know the severity until we get the scans back, and that'll probably be late on Monday."

Patrick Dangerfield had a breakout season in 2012, but Adelaide assistant coach Scott Camporeale believes the explosive midfielder still has room for improvement.

"That's scary if he takes it to another level, there's going to be some fireworks," Camporeale said.

"He's really improved, particularly over the past 12 months, he's a great student to work with – he listens and he's trying to get better all the time."

Nathan van Berlo will captain the Crows for a third consecutive year, with Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Sam Jacobs and Jason Porplyzia joining him in the leadership group.

"VB is the complete package when it comes to leadership," Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"He leads by example and he understands our game plan - he is an extension of the coaching group in that respect. His relationship with the whole squad is fantastic.

"He lives the values of the club and of the players. He is the ultimate role model for our young players and the entire squad."

Patrick Dangerfield's manager Paul Connors ays his client's third-party deal did not breach AFL rules despite media speculation to the contrary.

"Patrick had a 12-month arrangement with Alan Sheppard," Connors said.

"This was approved by the AFL. Patrick has had a relationship with Allan since he was 18 years of age and Alan continues to be a friend and mentor.

"The deal came about from Patrick's relationship with Alan. As far as we're concerned it's completely by the book."

Scott Thompson has claimed consecutive club champion awards, following in the footsteps of two Adelaide greats, Simon Goodwin and Mark Ricciuto.

Thompson won the award with 112 votes ahead of Patrick Dangerfield on 101 votes.

"This year the fact that we have won more games (than last year), it's easy to say you've had a better season than last," Thompson said.

"But I think I've been able to string a number of consistent years of football together now and I know what it takes for myself to get up each week and play at the level that's required to perform."

Patrick Dangerfield wins his second Grand Final sprint in dominant fashion ahead of Swan Harry Cunningham in second place and Hawthorn's Angus Litherland in third.

Ben Stratton plays a crucial role in helping the Hawks win the 2012 preliminary final after laying a tackle on Patrick Dangerfield, preventing the dangerous Crow from kicking a goal in the dying stages of the match.

"I thought, 'I have to corral him here; I can't let him get goal-side', because he's a pretty explosive player," Stratton said.

"He's a pretty quick player, but he slipped at a critical time and I managed to get two hands on him."

Rory Sloane says teammate Patrick Dangerfield has earnt a fitting nickname at the club.

"I think his speed and the way he can win his own footy and stand up when needed, I think he's going to be one of the best players in the competition," Sloane said.

"Raging bull, that's his nickname around here."

Star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield re-signs with Adelaide, dashing hopes of his Victorian suitors.

"The negotiations with his manager, they thought he was rated in a particular area, we pretty much agreed with that, so it wasn't a hard deal to do in the end," Adelaide football manager Phil Harper said.

"It was just a matter of getting all the 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed and coming up with something. The key part was that he wanted to stay, which he did."

Dangerfield said that the prospect of team success with the Crows made the decision to stay easy.

"[I considered] family back home compared to living here away from them, but once I sorted all that out it was a pretty straight-forward decision," Dangerfield said.

"I think we've got a huge future ahead of us. The start we've had to the season has been really good and going forward we're only going to be a better side the more we adjust to Sando's game style … and get to know each other's games."

Leigh Matthews has anointed Patrick Dangerfield the AFL's most explosive midfielder, taking over the mantle from Carlton superstar Chris Judd.

"I reckon the new Chris Judd in the competition is a guy (called) Patrick Dangerfield," Matthew said.

"He hasn't had the longevity, he's only started to do it the last six weeks, but he's gone into the midfield, he's big, he's strong and he's quick and he's powerful. That's a great combination."

Out-of-contract midfielder Rory Sloane says he, along with teammate Patrick Dangerfield, are keen to sign new deals with the Crows.

"We're (Sloane and Dangerfield) both loyal people, we're both enjoying our footy over here at the moment and I know we both love the way Brenton (Sanderson) is handling things," he said.

"It's a great feeling around the club and it's something that would be great to be involved in over the next couple of years."

After a 35-possession effort against Carlton, Patrick Dangerfield draws comparison with superstar Chris Judd but Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says Dangerfield is good enough to make a name for himself.

"I wouldn't do it to him by comparing him to anyone because he's his own man," Sanderson said.

"Someone said last week, 'We should just let Paddy Dangerfield be Paddy Dangerfield' and not compare him to anyone.

"He's enjoying his footy, he's playing well, he loves playing in a side that's winning and hopefully that continues."

Adelaide Crows midfielder Bernie Vince says teammate Patrick Dangerfield is one of the AFL's toughest players.

"His toughness and his attack on the ball is second to none. I reckon it's almost the best in the competition at the moment," Vince said.

"He's just running a lot smarter now. He's getting to a lot more contests rather than go running around chasing the ball like a dog."

Nathan van Berlo is confident out-of-contract stars Patrick Dangerfield and Kurt Tippett will stay at Adelaide.

"I've got every confidence in those two that they're pretty keen to stay around the footy club and hang around for some success in the future," van Berlo told 3AW on Wednesday night.

"There's been a lot of speculation but we've been working hard over pre-season in establishing not only a consistent game plan, but a culture that hopefully the boys want to be a part of - not only (for) those two but also the rest of the young guys we've got from interstate."

Former Richmond champion Matthew Richardson says Patrick Dangerfield is a key to the new and improved Crows in 2012.

"He's an 80m player … he gets the ball, runs, bounces and carries it 30m and then he's got the ability to kick it long into the forward line. He's got huge speed, as we all know he won the Grand Final sprint last year, and he uses it to maximum effect," Richardson said.

"When he gets the ball he always bursts and gets that 10 or 15m in before he releases the football."

The media reports on Geelong freeing up salary cap space in an effort to lure young stars Patrick Dangerfield or Travis Boak from South Australia.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says the club would be devastated to lose out-of-contract young stars Kurt Tippett and Patrick Dangerfield in free agency.

"If they both left it'd be shattering for the footy club, we'd have to start again in some areas. "It'd be very important for them both to stay," Sanderson said.

"Any young player at the footy club, they just want to see that we're providing a platform to improve and be at a club that's consistently involved in playing finals footy. Hopefully that's the path that we're taking."

Patrick Dangerfield wins the Showdown Medal after a stunning 39-disposal effort against Port Adelaide and Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says it is imperative that the club re-signs the young midfielder to another contract soon.

"I'd love for him to be at the club for his whole career," Sanderson said.

"Forget about his game tonight, he's just an exceptional person to have around the footy club. With our younger players, he spends time with the kids when the kids are at training, he's just a model player."

In his fifth season with the Crows, Patrick Dangerfield says he is still working on his game.

"I think I know what I'm capable of so it's just about doing things consistently now and being rewarded for the hard work," he said.

"Every player wants to be the best they can be, and for me, what's frustrating is that I've been able to have really good passages of play but not consistently enough. I'm sure it frustrates my teammates just as much as it frustrates me."

Patrick Dangerfield will captain the Crows in their round 2 NAB Cup clash against the Lions and teammate Chris Knights says Dangerfield is the perfect man to lead the club.

"That's the beauty about Danger - he's quite inspirational in the way he goes about it on and off the field," Knights said.

"He also provides a lot of leadership in terms of mentoring roles and giving younger and senior blokes advice at the same time."

Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane have been included in Adelaide's 2012 leadership group.

"Paddy and Rory have both had fantastic summers. They've showed not only to the new coaches, who have come into the group, but to the existing coaches that they're more than ready to be in the leadership group," Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said.

"They've really stood out as the players that are ready to take that step. They can obviously both have an impact on match day with the way they play, but they also show a lot of empathy particularly towards the younger group of guys."

Patrick Dangerfield says he is prepared for the inevitable speculation on his future as one of Adelaide's most sought-after uncontracted stars in 2012.

"Players have to be prepared to cop criticism whether it be from supporters, media or anyone because it's (speculation) going to be there," Dangerfield said.

"But it's not something I'm too concerned about. It hasn't affected me and is something that will happen in due course.

"For me, it's about performing and the team performing and that will come first. Hopefully it's not something I'll have to worry about and we can play finals and consistent footy throughout the year."

Melbourne players Ricky Petterd, Brad Green, Colin Sylvia, James Frawley, Nathan Jones, and Jack Watts may be questioned by the AFL after using twitter to express their frustrations at teammate Jack Trengove being suspended for three weeks after a reckless tackle on Crow Patrick Dangerfield.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has asked Patrick Dangerfield to be more selective in unleashing his trademark intensity.

"In a lot of situations Patrick doesn't need to be as fierce as he is because it's a waste of energy. To try and stand up in a pack and drag three players along on your back ... it can be quite tiresome for 22 games a year," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"He's just got to be able to pick the situations where it does require the real fierceness that he has, versus it's not time for him to do that and it's time for him to go to space and receive the ball."

Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield hopes his time spent in the backline during the International Rules Series will help him improve his AFL game.

"It's a lot harder to get a position to play in the forward line in Gaelic footy rather than Aussie Rules," he said.

"It has been a different role but it's been good to change things up a bit and I'll learn from it. I've really only played up forward with streaks through the midfield for Adelaide."

Adelaide coach Neil Craig praises the contested ball work of youngsters Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield but says they must work on other parts of their game as well.

"I'm really pleased with Rory. I like the way he plays, his contested ball is exceptional already and his in-close work is very, very good for such a young player," he said.

"What we need to add to Rory is a bit more of an offensive part to his game and that will come as he becomes more experienced and spends more time on the training track.

"I'd put the same comment next to Patrick as well. Contested ball is in the elite area in the AFL for those guys, but they need to have an offensive competition to their game as well."

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield says he would have turned down Gold Coast's offer if he was in departing teammate Nathan Bock's shoes.

"It would have been a tough decision for Bocky, but at the same time I haven't been here very long and I'd like to see myself playing for only one club," Dangerfield said.

"I think the club culture we've got here is outstanding. It's a very professional environment ... and I think we're building towards a premiership in the next couple of years, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield has put paid to talk of a possible move home to Victoria or to the Gold Coast by re-signing with Adelaide.

"It's great to get this sorted out," Dangerfield said.

"It hasn't been the greatest season for the team but there's lots of potential in this group. The footy club has been great to me since I was drafted and I think we are going to be a force in the AFL for the next few years and challenge for finals."

Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield does not expect contract talks until the end of the season, but has no plans to move.

"I have no plans on moving at all. It my contract will take care of itself at the end of the year, but I certainly have no plans at this stage of moving anywhere," Dangerfield said.

"You want to enjoy the club that you're at, the culture and being part of finals. The group that we've got here is a great group to be part of and I thoroughly enjoy the coaches and the way that they do it."

Crows coach Neil Craig says Patrick Dangerfield is a future leader at Adelaide, but has ruled him out as Simon Goodwin's successor for 2011.

"Leadership potential is probably a good term for Patrick. He's still very young. He's showing some real interest in that aspect of the game...but [the captaincy] is a much greater responsibility than just playing ability now," Adelaide coach Neil Craig said.

"When Patrick's available he tends to get picked for us and he's been in good form, but he's still establishing himself as an AFL player and he's still got a lot to learn from a playing point of view."

Adelaide's horrendous injury run continues with Patrick Dangerfield breaking his left hand and set to miss four weeks.

Crow Chris Knights will also be sidelined due to soreness in his foot caused by a stress fracture.

"It's not ideal losing quality players in Patrick and Chris. We've got some youngsters who are playing in the SANFL and are in good form. They'll come in and like ever before we need them to perform," Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin said.

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield believes his sickening neck injury against Melbourne was the result of a freak incident.

"When it happened I was pretty concerned because of the way I came down on my neck. I heard a cracking sound ... so to get the all-clear was very good," Dangerfield said.

"It's still a bit sore at the moment, but I'll be pushing for selection this week. It could have been a lot worse, so I'm thankful."

Dangerfield says that he will not change the way he plays despite the injury.

"I've worked on the way I approach the ball, but what happened on the weekend was just one of those freak-of-nature type accidents. I'm not too concerned about it and it certainly won't change the way I play," he said.

"Last year it was more about concussions, but I haven't had any this year so far so I'm not worried about it."

Patrick Dangerfield suffers a serious neck injury after being gang-tackled by three Melbourne Demons players.

Scans clear Dangerfield of neck fractures but he will remain in hospital for further scans to determine the extent of his injury.

Teammates Trent Hentschel, Nathan Bock and Kurt Tippett also suffered knee, hamstring and ankle injuries in the same game leaving the Crows without a bench for the last quarter and a half where the Demons were able to run out the game to a 16-point victory.

Crows captain Simon Goodwin believes young players Kurt Tippett and Patrick Dangerfield will be the big improvers for the club in 2010.

"He is certainly fantastic at ground level and the pressure he can put on the opposition with his presence is enormous. He understands the game a bit better -- he comes from a basketball background -- and he is understanding the game more and more each year and he is only going to get better," Goodwin said of Tippett.

"The challenge for Patty is his ability to link up across the ground and he has got himself in really good physical shape to be able to do that. It is exciting for Patty," Goodwin said about Dangerfield.

"He is now in the elite runners at the footy club and it has enabled him to do that and now it is up to Patty to be that player in the midfield to earn 25 to 30 possessions a week."

Adelaide youngster Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for up to three weeks after straining a medial ligament in his knee during a typically competitive Crows training session.

"Patty was in a marking contest and he just gave his medial a bit of a tweak. It's down the lower end of the scale, so it will probably keep him out at least a week," Crows fitness coach Stephen Schwerdt said.

"It's the nature of our training. If you're going to do competitive-type training there's always the risk of this sort of thing happening.

A clean bill of health and some strong performances on the track have Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield considering a midfield role for 2010 after a torrid start to 2009 due to injuries last year.

"At the time I probably didn't realise how much of an impact missing training would have and it gave me a greater appreciation once the season started, just being able to be out there and train," Dangerfield said.

"If you're in rehabilitation it makes it so much harder to get up to speed with the way that we train and the way that we play. It makes it a lot harder come January or February to make your way into the pre-season side."

Dangerfield also says he is in no rush yet to extend his contract which ends in 2010 but is looking for a house to settle in Adelaide.

"The contract's not something I need to rush into at the moment. I just want to focus on getting a good pre-season under my belt, playing some good footy and the rest will take care of itself," he said.

"I'm loving every minute of it over here. Mum's on the internet pretty much every night looking on (real estate site) Domain and she gives me a call if she finds anything. Hopefully the right house will come along soon."

Young Crow Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined for a week after suffering a back strain against Geelong.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig says young key position players James Sellar and Shaun McKernan have earnt their place in the side.

"In the ruck, James is not a super tall guy. He's 196cm and a lot of the guys now are over 200cm, so he'll have his work cut out there but he's addressed some areas that we've been onto James about in terms of work ethic, work rate and competitive attitude," Craig said.

"We're not into giving games away. Shaun has earned the opportunity and the right to play AFL footy.

"We've just got to make sure that we expose those guys when the timing is right and they've earned it because we found last year that, even though Andy Otten and Patrick Dangerfield only played two games, it made a huge difference when it came to the pre-season."

Adelaide Crows recruiter Matt Rendell says the decision to pick Patrick Dangerfield ahead of local South Australian product Bradley Ebert in 2008 was correct.

"Ebert is making his mark over in WA. West Coast is really happy with him and I'm glad because I really liked him as a player," Rendell said.

"We just thought Dangerfield was going to give us something that we didn't have on our list; some break-the-lines speed and massive intensity. So far, that's how it's turned out and it hasn't surprised me knowing the character of the bloke."

Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig says young Crow Patrick Dangerfield has impressive strength for his age.

"For a guy Patrick's age, his attack on the footy is as good as I've seen in my involvement in footy. At such a young age, it's exceptional...absolutely exceptional and it's just natural for him; it's not manufactured," Craig said.

"He's a powerful man. I think Todd Viney made the comment the other day just in doing some stoppage work at training about how strong Patrick is."

Steven King is looking at a month on the sidelines after being charged with rough conduct, while Paddy Ryder has also been suspended.

King was involved in an off the ball incident on Saturday which left Kangaroo Sam Power unconscious.

Ryder was suspended for a week for rough conduct against young Crow Patrick Dangerfield.

Adelaide teenager Patrick Dangerfield is the Round 3 nominee for the AFL's Rising Star award.

Patrick Dangerfield showed glimpses of his prodigious talent in Friday night's loss to the Saints.

AFL football operations chief Adrian Anderson accepts Adelaide's appeal to allow Crows first round draft pick Patrick Dangerfield to stay with the Geelong Falcons under-18 team while he completes his Year 12 studies in the Geelong district.

Speculation on whether Dangerfield would be permitted to play in the under-18 competition had arisen in recent weeks with reports that several clubs had approached the league to voice their objections.

"Adrian has used his discretion after finding there is no rule in the books saying a draftee cannot play in the TAC Cup," Crows football operations manager John Reid said.

Dangerfield is expected to play with SANFL club West Adelaide up to five times this year before a clearance deadline on June 30.

Recently drafted Patrick Dangerfield decides to spend a year in Victoria to finish school before joining his new team, Adelaide, full time in 2009.

"My parents are both teachers and it was mainly about having them as tutors every night," Dangerfield said. "That's a huge benefit and that was a driving factor."

"He put his school first and we respect that," Crows coach Neil Craig said. "We had known that for some months."

Brad Ebert is unexpectedly overlooked by Adelaide before being picked up by the Eagles in the 2007 national draft.

The Crows selected Patrick Dangerfield ahead of Ebert and AFL recruiting expert Kevin Sheehan called it one of the biggest surprises of the draft.

"Most drafts had Ebert going in the top 10 and Dangerfield anywhere from eight to 16," Sheehan said. "You'd have to be in the inner sanctum to understand how Adelaide came to its decision but it probably looked at pace."

Crows recruiting manager Matt Rendell justified the decision, calling Dangerfield the prototype modern AFL footballer.

"We would have rated him (Dangerfield) higher than anyone else because I think most people had him rated between 10 and 15," Rendell said. "If Dangerfield wasn't there, it always was going to be Ebert who we went with."

Ebert's new association with the Eagles is also a change from his family's traditional ties to Port Adelaide.

"I suppose with Dad and even my grandpa and my great grandpa playing for the Magpies, there have been a lot of people in my family play for Port and on the other side my cousin and my uncle," Ebert said.

"We are associated with Port, but now I'm at West Coast I'm looking forward to going there."