Patrick Dangerfield

Dangerfield graduated from the AIS-AFL Academy and toured South Africa in early 2007. In October 2007, he won the 100m and 400m titles at the Victorian Secondary Schools Athletics. While at school he was also a school captain at Oberon High School.

Patrick Dangerfield was selected by the Adelaide Crows with the tenth pick in the 2007 National Draft. Dangerfield's selection caused immediate controversy as he spent his first AFL year studying in his home state, Victoria, and could not train with the club consistently, while other possible selections such as Brad Ebert began their AFL careers in the senior side. During 2008 he played for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup while studying and training with Adelaide when possible. Despite his disadvantages, Dangerfield made his debut for the Crows in their round 20 clash against Essendon during the 2008 AFL Season,recording 9 disposals and 1 goal, Dangerfield played one more game for the season, the following week in round 21, recording 3 disposals.

In the 2009 AFL Season, Dangerfield changed his guernsey number from 19 (retired in order to assist the launch of the club's "19th Man" campaign) to the number belonging to former Adelaide captain Mark Ricciuto, 32. In that year he became a regular in the Crows' senior side, with his style of play likened by fans and commentators to Ricciuto. He received an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 3 for his performance against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval, Dangerfield recorded, 20 disposals, 1 goal, 5 inside-fifties, and 5 clearances in the game. Dangerfield played in 19 of the 22 games during the home-and-away season, averaging 13.0 disposals and 1.0 goals a game. Dangerfield played in two finals, recording 11 disposals and 2 goals in the Crows 96-point win over Essendon in an elimination final, the following week Dangerfield recorded 16 disposals and 2 goals in a 5-point loss to Collingwood in the semi-finals. In the 2010 AFL Season, Dangerfield continued to develop his game, only missing two games for the entire season. He increased his disposal average to 15.7 and continued to average a goal a game, kicking 26 goals for the season. Dangerfield had his best game of the season in a 22-point victory over the West Coast Eagles in round 15, recording 23 disposals, 1 goal, 7 inside-fifties, and 6 clearances.

In the 2011 AFL Season, Dangerfield was given more responsibility in the midfield and continued to make leaps on improving his game, increasing his disposal average from 15.7 to 17.1, along with still averaging a goal a game, racking up 375 disposals for the year (6th best at the club), and kicking 23 goals (3rd best at the club) behind the Crows two main forwards. Dangerfield had his first 30 possession game against Richmond in round 23, recording 31 disposals, 7 inside-fifties, and 10 clearances in a 22-point loss. He also won the annual Grand Final Sprint.

In the 2012 AFL Season, Dangerfield emerged as a star of the competition, playing in the midfield full-time, and racking up 667 disposals for the regular season, ranked tenth in the AFL. He increased his average disposal count from 17.1 up to 26.7 a game, but dropped to averaging just under a goal a game, still kicking 23 goals for the season. Dangerfield had several breakout games in 2012, recording 39 disposals and 14 inside-fifties in a round 5 showdown clash against Port Adelaide, resulting in Dangerfield winning the Showdown Medal, recording 36 disposals and 2 goals in a round 23 clash against the Gold Coast Suns, among more. Dangerfield ended his season by receiving his first ever selection into the All-Australian Team as a forward-flanker and polled 23 votes (third highest in his career) finishing 7th in the Brownlow Medal. Dangerfield helped the Crows finish the season with a win-loss record of 17-5, finishing 2nd on the ladder after finishing 14th the previous year. During the season he re-signed with the club for three years, to a very positive reaction from Crows supporters.

In the 2013 AFL Season, Dangerfield had another strong season, but wasn't able to replicate the success he had in the previous season, his average disposal count dropped from 26.7 down to 23.3, and he only racked up 466 disposals (66th in the league) compared to the 667 he had the previous year. He switched between playing in the forward line and midfield, resulting in him kicking 31 goals for the season, second best at the club. He was selected for his second All-Australian Team as a forward flanker and polled 22 votes at the Brownlow Medal, finishing fourth. He played his 100th AFL game against Sydney in round 11, recording 27 disposals, 1 goal, and 8 inside-fifties, but the milestone would not be one to be remembered as the Crows lost by 77 points. In 2014 AFL Season, Dangerfield was named acting co-captain alongside Rory Sloane due to regular captain Nathan van Berlo's absence through injury. He continued his elite form, and increased his disposal average to 24.9 a game, along with kicking 17 goals for the season. Dangerfield led the Crows in disposals at the end of the season (548) and was second in the league for contested possessions (341) behind Josh Kennedy (371). Dangerfield's season included a 41-possession game against reigning premiers, Hawthorn, a record for an AFL match at the Adelaide Oval. Dangerfield wasn't selected for the All-Australian Team, not even making the initial 40-man squad. He polled 21 votes and finished equal fourth at the Brownlow Medal.

In the 2015 AFL Season, Dangerfield had his best season as a Crow to date, averaging 26.8 disposals and one goal a game, kicking 21 goals for the season. He led his team in disposals with 617 and was ranked 10th in the league, along with being ranked 5th in the league for clearances (165), and 3rd for inside-fifties (114). He had four games where he recorded more than 35 possessions. In round 21, Dangerfield made his 150th senior appearance for the Adelaide Crows in their clash against Brisbane, he recorded 16 disposals and 1 goal in the 87-point victory. Dangerfield was recognised for his strong season when he was awarded the Malcolm Blight Medal as the club best and fairest, along with being selected into the All-Australian Team as midfielder. Dangerfield appeared in two finals, recording 26 disposals in an elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs and 29 disposals, 1 goal, and 10 clearances in a loss to Hawthorn in the semi-finals. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, he announced his intention to pursue his rights as a free agent to return to live in his hometown of Moggs Creek just outside Geelong. He was officially traded to the Geelong Football Club in October.