Do we like them?

Do we like Patrick Dangerfield?

Our score: 8 out of 10. He has repeatedly backed anti-racism, the Voice and anti-violence campaigns, with nothing harmful found, though the record is thinner on LGBTQ+ issues.

Dangerfield is a Geelong kid who was picked by Adelaide at pick 10 in the 2007 draft, spent eight years in South Australia, then came home to the Cats in 2016. That same year he won the Brownlow Medal with a then-record 35 votes. He has since become Geelong captain and a premiership player.

In 2023 he posted a photo of himself marking a Yes vote on the Voice ballot, captioned “it's time”, with the Aboriginal flag colours. Years earlier he was one of three player ambassadors for The Line, a campaign to help teens recognise behaviours that lead to violence against women. We found nothing from him on trans or LGBTQ+ issues either way, and nothing on climate.

The recent bit is a mess, but it's the club's. A deal between Geelong and defender Jake Kolodjashnij, covering a waiver of future legal rights, became public in August. Dangerfield said the club had “buggered it up”, urged patience until the facts were in, and said the human side tends to get lost in the chase for a story.

Like most footy stars he has had on-field run-ins with the tribunal over tackles and bumps, and fans argue about them. That's sport, not character. We found no off-field allegations, lawsuits or court cases involving him.