Former Geelong star Paul Chapman says reigning Brownlow Medalist Patrick Dangerfield should play a different role for the Cats in 2017 for the betterment of the team.
The 2009 Norm Smith Medalist and three-time premiership player for Geelong says despite Dangerfield blitzing the field in the middle of the ground last season, he should be used as a forward this season.
โFor the team, and the sideโs premiership push, I reckon heโd be better used as a forward,โ Chapman said on SEN.
โAs a permanent, or semi-permanent forward, heโd kick two or three goals a game and end up being a 50-plus goalkicker."
Chapman believes the move would have a positive effect on the rest of the team, which would result in the club's younger midfielders stepping up, while the forward line would greatly benefit from hisย strength, speed and goal nous.
โThe flow-on effect of that would be it would help out Tom Hawkins and give other guys like Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie, Scott Selwood and Sam Menegola a chance to take more responsibility through the midfield alongside Joel Selwood," he said.
"It would also allow a player like Steven Motlop to move up onto the ball more during games and use his run and skill as an outside option.
โAs great as โDangerโ was last year I think some guys were intimidated by his presence to a degree and went back into their shells.
โYouโd rather him get it (ball) 20 times and kick two or three goals as a forward than get 35-40 times in the midfield.
โAs elite as he is field kicking isnโt a huge strength so that can be detrimental at times playing though the middle.
โBut if youโre talking tools needed to be a successful mid-sized forward then youโre looking at him and saying there isnโt one he doesnโt have."
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