Adelaide have made an audacious bid to lure Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield back to the club, according to 7NEWS reporter Mitch Cleary.
Dangerfield, who turned 34 last month, is out of contract at the end of the AFL season and qualifies as a restricted free agent. That means the Crows can make an offer and potentially secure the veteran without the need for a trade.
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Cleary reports Adelaide have reached out to Dangerfield’s camp to ask the question, believing he would be the “perfect addition to their young list”.
“It shows how aggressive the Crows will be this off-season. And this approach — to see him finish his career as a Crow — will give him something to think about,” Cleary said.
“But the most likely scenario remains staying with Geelong, where he’s had preliminary extension talks.”
Dangerfield is currently sidelined after suffering his second hamstring injury of the season. He is expected to return to the field in the next month, but the Cats could wait until after the club’s bye in Round 14.
Geelong suffered their first loss of the season on the weekend, but remain in second spot on the ladder and primed for a serious tilt at the premiership.
Dangerfield was appointed captain of the Cats ahead of the 2023 season when he took over from Joel Selwood following the veteran leader’s retirement after the 2022 premiership success.
Dangerfield endured a difficult first year as skipper, missing five games through injury as the Cats missed the finals for just the second time in coach Chris Scott’s reign.
Whether he would move back to Adelaide remains to be seen.
Dangerfield famously left the Crows at the end of the 2015 season to head home to Moggs Creek in Victoria and play for Geelong.
He was at Adelaide for eight years and won the best and fairest award in 2015, as well as three All-Australian selections.
Since moving to Geelong, he elevated his game to a new level, winning the Brownlow Medal in his first season, as well as the AFL MVP and AFLCA player of the year award.
He also won three best and fairests and made another five All-Australian teams for eight in total, which is the equal most in history.
He finally achieved his dream of a premiership in 2022 when the ageing Cats smashed a disappointing Sydney side.
Dangerfield finished second in the Norm Smith medal voting after gathering 27 disposals, nine clearances and a staggering six direct goal assists.