PATRICK Dangerfield is likely staring at a few weeks on the sidelines but could be out for more than a month with a partially collapsed lung and a cracked rib, according to a leading sports medico.<\/p>\n
Dr Peter Larkins expects the Geelong captain to miss anywhere between three and six weeks, saying to return in less than a month would be the \u201cbest case scenario\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dangerfield copped a heavy knock in marking contest in the second quarter of the Cats\u2019 loss to Port Adelaide last week.<\/p>\n
Despite playing out the clash, the 33-year-old couldn\u2019t impose himself on the game as he did in the first quarter, with Chris Scott suggesting the Brownlow Medallist progressively seized up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not unusual to miss anything up to six weeks. Three weeks would be a short recovery, some people with a very small amount of collapse in the lung [could return then],\u201d Larkins told SEN.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sore rib is sore for four to six weeks, so the opposition will know that. The cracked rib, even without a collapsed lung, is an issue for a player playing who\u2019s tackling and getting hit for a three to six-week period, but the collapsed lung adds the danger of another hit causing it to get collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact he played on means it\u2019s not a big collapse, but they can actually deflate a little bit more if he\u2019d flown. Obviously the club knew that, hence the road trip back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geelong had already ruled Dangerfield out for Thursday\u2019s clash against Melbourne, but the club is yet to place their own timeframe on his return.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe collapsed lung, it\u2019s remarkable he played with that,\u201d Larkins said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty tough effort. Obviously they needed him on the night and he did well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dangerfield finished the game with 15 disposals, three clearances and a goal but was hospitalised in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
But with the Cats\u2019 season hanging by a thread, the skipper would have loved to deliver his side four points against the now ladders leaders.<\/p>\n
Teammate Isaac Smith told SEN’s Crunch Time Dangerfield is, \u201cas tough as I’ve ever played with.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Dangerfield misses three games, he won\u2019t line up against Sydney or North Melbourne in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Geelong plays Essendon, Brisbane and Fremantle in the weeks following.<\/p>\n
The match against Port Adelaide marked Dangerfield\u2019s first game in more than a month after taking six weeks off with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n