Patrick Dangerfield has waited his entire career to finally make it to an AFL Grand Final and he has wasted no time making an instant impression.
The Geelong star flattened Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin in a chaotic first quarter opening that also saw Cats veteran Gary Ablett leave the field with a serious shoulder injury.
Dangerfield and Vlastuin were about to play a contested ball, and the cat got there first, knocking the Sherrin away when his opponent came down on him.
But Dangerfield braced himself for contact with the Tigers defender, cocked his elbow, and gathered Vlastuin in his head.
Vlastuin was coldly knocked out and the game was suspended for almost eight minutes while medical staff took care of him. He remained motionless on the floor before he was finally placed on a stretcher and then taken off the floor with medication.
The 26-year-old was quickly expelled from the Grand Final and later made his way to the bank to watch the rest of the action from the border line.
Some said Dangerfield’s punch was accidental and a reflex reaction as it headed for a major collision with Vlastuin, but others didn’t show the same compassion to the midfield weapon.
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Sports journalist Sam Vecenie tweeted, “That was Ugly from Dangerfield. He’ll be out a couple of laps before starting next season. “
Daniel Joyce said on Twitter that Dangerfield was “dirty” while another sports journalist, Tim Barrow, targeted Channel 7 commentators in defense of Geelong’s superstar.
“Um, very clearly, Dangerfield should be suspended. Not that he cares if he wins a flag. The comment is just awful, ”Barrow wrote.
Former soccer reporter Ray Gatt stepped in, adding, “I just saw the elbow. Surely this guy will be quoted and suspended for six weeks? “
After another heavy hit later in the first half, journalist Wendy Carlisle commented, “That’s two elbows from Dangerfield.”
Steve Taylor nicknamed him “Patrick ‘Elbows’ Dangerfield” while Peter Brown said “the elbow could be a match winner” as Richmond’s defense initially struggled to gel without Vlastuin before finding their groove
On the other side of the fence, Australian baseball star Travis Blackley said the hit was “absolutely unintentional” and that “Dangerfield is clearly defending himself”.
Journalist Xavier Mardling said Dangerfield “hit the ball and only brought the NV up after the arm slid up on contact. Be unhappy to face a ban ”.
Dangerfield didn’t have much of an impact, however, as Richmond won a third flag in four years. Dustin Martin was unstoppable as he led the Tigers to a 12.9 (81) to 7.8 (50) win.
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