PATRICK Dangerfield is refusing to take a “woe is me” approach to Geelong’s preliminary final loss.
The Cats gave up a 21-point halftime lead to eventual premier Richmond to make it three exits from the premiership race on the penultimate weekend of the season in four years.
“It’s tough to look at it and go “we were so close”, but you’ve just got to get over it,” Dangerfield.
“Reflection is important, but the self-pity around “we were so close, we couldn’t get there, poor us, we deserve more”, no one cares.
“For me, it’s about “what we can we control?”. That’s how we turn up individually, then collectively how we prepare ourselves.
“We’re so privileged to play for this football club and be in the environment that we are, and in a league that we’re in that’s so well supported right around the country.”
CATS: KELLY LEAVES MIDFIELD DOOR OPEN
The 29-year-old signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him in the Hoops until the end of 2024 on Thursday.
For everything he has achieved in his glittering 248-game career, the label of “premiership player” is lacking from Dangerfield’s resume.
“One of the great things about this footy club is that they always put us, as players, in a position to compete every year,” he said.
“And I think that’s a really important thing, regardless of whether you’re 13 years in the system, as I am, or you’re only a few years, or you’re at the very end of your career.
“The importance of having that window open – not that I subscribe to those window theories too much, but I think we’re capable of competing every year.
“And I wouldn’t be here, and I don’t think our players would be here if we weren’t.
“You want to be playing in finals every year. That’s what the game is about; that’s what we’re about as a club.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
