Patrick Dangerfield admits he fell into a “dark cave” following Geelong’s Grand Final loss to Richmond last month.
Playing in his first Grand Final, Dangerfield had 12 touches and kicked a goal in his side’s 31-point loss at The Gabba.
Amid the obvious disappointment after coming so close to claiming an elusive maiden premiership, Dangerfield said he experienced a wide range of emotions both during the game and in the lead up.
“Not super well,” he said on SEN’s Whateley when asked about how he coped with the loss.
“It took me while to get out of the dark cave I was in there for a while.
“Eddie Betts probably sums it up well – in an interview he was talking about the AFL Grand Final and he said it’s the best day and worst day all encapsulated into one.
“It was certainly a bit of that, it was a wonderful achievement to put ourselves in a position to play in a Grand Final and we would have loved a different result, but Richmond were spectacular and they deserve it.
“They’ve been an incredible side over a long period of time and they are the benchmark, the challenge is in front of us and we feel with the players we’ve brought in that we’ll be every bit as competitive come next season.”
All Victorian clubs were forced to spend much of the season in Queensland hubs, as a second COVID-19 shut Melbourne down over winter for multiple months.
While some players struggled with hub life, Dangerfield said it was an invaluable experience to spend extended time with teammates.
“It was an incredible ride, he said.
“We obviously would have loved to have finished slightly different, but we’ve learnt so much as a playing group.
“We’ve loved spending time together and we’re certainly going to enjoy the time apart because it was a long time on the road.
“It would sort of what I experienced at Adelaide, you’d go away as a team and it was everyone together. Most Victorian-based clubs where they do not travel as much, they do not get a much time with the playing group – that part I found special.
“But it’s nice to be home and nice to take a depth breath after a long season and quite clearly a long year for everyone, not just those in the AFL.”