Patrick Dangerfield’s 350-Game Milestone: A Legacy of Grit, Growth, and Greatness
If you want to talk about greatness in Australian football, you can’t do it without mentioning Patrick Dangerfield. This Friday night, he runs out for his 350th AFL game—a milestone only 24 other players in V/AFL history have achieved. And yet, as Dangerfield himself would likely say, it’s not about the number. It’s about the journey, the people, and the moments that have made it all worthwhile.
What’s made Dangerfield so enduring? It’s more than just talent. Sure, we’ve seen the explosive pace, the bruising tackles, the goals from impossible angles—but it’s his mindset that really defines him. He’s a man who has learned how to separate the noise from what matters. Nerves? He’s had plenty. Some days he’d wake up feeling invincible; other days, the anxiety was almost crippling. But he learned to park those feelings, play through them, and move on. That mental resilience, he believes, is what’s carried him through 18 seasons and into the elite 350-game club.
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What stands out when he talks about his career is not just the accolades—the Brownlow Medal, the premiership, the All-Australian jackets, the MVPs. It’s the way he talks about the people and the purpose. The boy from Anglesea, raised on toughness and discipline, has become more than just a footballer. He’s a leader, a father, a husband, and even the AFLPA President. At 35, he still wakes up loving the contest. He still wants to be better than the guy next to him. That’s his fire.
He laughs when he remembers the early days—before iPhones, before premierships—just a kid hoping to get drafted. But even now, after all the awards and triumphs, he still focuses on the present. “400 games?” he shrugs. “That’s a long way away.” But he’s still out there, still dominating, still putting up 30-goal seasons and leading by example.
Dangerfield's reflections are raw and real. He talks about leadership not as something you master, but as something you keep learning. He recalls the early lesson from coach Neil Craig about going in hard or not at all—a philosophy that’s defined his playing style and arguably helped him avoid more injuries than it’s caused. Full commitment, every time.
What makes Dangerfield’s 350th even more special is how grounded he remains. He speaks of premierships not as entitlements but as hard-won glories. And though that 2022 flag with Geelong might have been the cherry on top, it was the relationships, the fans, and the shared experiences that made it meaningful.
So as he laces up for game 350 against Brisbane, you get the sense that Dangerfield isn’t chasing history. He’s living it. Right now. And for anyone who’s followed his journey, it’s been one hell of a ride.
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