Patrick Dangerfield in ‘serious pain’ after innocuous incident

Patrick Dangerfield has suffered a fresh hamstring setback in just his second AFL game back from a previous problem that kept him out for a month.

The skipper was influential throughout Geelong’s clash with Carlton at the MCG on Saturday, recording 16 disposals, one goal and two goal assists, but an innocuous incident brought an early end to Dangerfield’s day in the third quarter.

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The 34-year-old chased a loose ball out of a centre bounce with trademark power but fell to the turf just when he’d managed to get his hands on it.

Dangerfield did not appear to reach for any particular body part but clearly knew he was injured, limping off the field immediately — telltale signs of another soft-tissue strain.

“It’s been the slowest jog you’ll ever see,” Cam Mooney said on Fox Sports.

“He’s in some serious pain at the moment and I’d say he’ll be going straight down to the rooms.”

Dangerfield was indeed substituted out just moments later, replaced by Tom Atkins.

Dangerfield was heavily involved before his injury. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I just know it’s a hamstring,” Cats coach Chris Scott said when quizzed on Dangerfield’s latest setback.

“I could speculate but I don’t think that helps.

“He was subbed off with a hamstring and the club will give a little bit more detail as the week goes on, but I’m not sure at the moment.”

The Cats skipper’s latest blow threatens to turn another troubled season into a nightmare.

Dangerfield has not managed more than 18 games in a season since 2020 — when he played every single one of Geelong’s 21 games.

He played just 16 the following year and 18 in each of the past two, while he has already missed three this season and is now bound for the sidelines again.

The Cats found themselves in a battle after he left the field on Saturday before steadying into the last break.

Leading by 13 points when Dangerfield was injured, Carlton kicked three of the next four goals to cut the margin down to just four points.

Ollie Henry kicked his second of the match to help push Geelong’s lead back out to 11 points at three-quarter time.

The Blues came back again in the final term with four straight goals reigniting a contest that looked dead and buried, only for Jeremy Cameron to wrap up an eventual 18.10 (118) to 15.15 (105) victory with his fifth goal of the day.

Cameron reached the 600-goal milestone for his career during the match.

“I don’t really like to look back on that but it’s nice, it’s nice,” he said after the game.

Geelong are the last remaining unbeaten team but will face another test against Melbourne at the MCG next Saturday night.

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