‘Super fortunate’ Dangerfield lauds family support ahead of milestone

GEELONG skipper Patrick Dangerfield has heaped praise on his family for their support during his career as he prepares for his 350th AFL match tomorrow (Friday, June 20).

The Cats take on reigning premier Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium.

Dangerfield has three children with wife Mardi.

“It’s very special, that’s certainly not lost on me [the support] from Mards and Mum and Dad and my sister and obviously the kids,” he said earlier today.

 

 

“It’s a wonderful part of the game, it’s a challenging part of the game but probably more challenging for Mards because as much as we talk about family being first, as a professional athlete, the reality is that’s not the case.

“You’ve got to be selfish to a certain extent if you want to be really good and Mards has been incredible understanding that, whether she says it to my face or not.

“She’s a competitor herself, she likes winning and she likes the Cats winning.”

 

The 35-year-old gave a shoutout to his junior footy club, Anglesea.

“That’s where it all starts and I remember running out as a 16-year-old there and I still love going down to the footy club now and coaching my son’s team in the under-9s,” he said.

“It’s a great club to be a part of … to be able to combine that with professional sport is a special thing.”

 

 

Geelong will give out 40,000 free Cats-themed white T-shirts to create a college football-like cauldron, an initiative Dangerfield labeled “fantastic”.

“Friday night footy on any calendar is great, we love being part of it as a club… to white out the ground the way it’s going to be tomorrow, I think it’s going to a great spectacle.”