Dangerfield betting for Adelaide return, AFL Friday Cats vs Crows

Friday, May 13, 7.50pm, Adelaide Oval, watch on Seven Network, Fox Footy

Ladder position
Adelaide Crows: Eighth
Geelong Cats: Second

Season record
Adelaide Crows: 4-3
Geelong Cats: 6-1

Last five match results
Adelaide Crows: WWLWL
Geelong Cats: WWWWW

Head-to-head odds
Adelaide Crows: $1.92 with Sportsbet.com.au
Geelong Cats: $1.92 with Sportsbet.com.au

Line betting
Adelaide Crows: -0.5 ($1.94 with sportsbet.com.au)
Geelong Cats: +0.5 ($1.90 with sportsbet.com.au)

ALL eyes will be on Geelong Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield as he returns to the place he deserted after he returns to the place he dominated for the first eight seasons of his career.

And the Adelaide Crows have warned he is set to cop a sledging from players and a torrid welcome from the fans, who feel abandoned by their favourite son.

“I’m sure there will get sledged,” big ruckman Sam Jacobs told reporters.

“But it will probably be no different than every week.

“Obviously it’s common, players change clubs all the time.

He’s just another bloke who has done that.

“I guess personally mate I’m just looking forward to playing.

“You guys will obviously pump it up and all that sort of stuff.

“It will get enough air time as it is.

“I’m sure some guys will embrace it but some of us will just go about it and look forward to putting a disappointing performance against the Bulldogs behind us.”

The question to answer is, how well will he deal with the lambasting he is going to get?

We at CupsBetting.com believe the sledging and boos will be like water off a duck’s back for the consummate professional and the fired up 26 year old has a massive game in store for his old team mates.

“While there will be a lot of hype leading up to Friday night, knowing the Adelaide group they will be more focused on winning the game than worrying about me,” Dangerfield said ahead of the massive clash.

“For me this week and for the team it is going to be business.

“We go there to get four points. We’re going there for one reason and one reason only.

“I spent a long time there and played a lot of footy there, and have great mates there and I would be lying if I didn’t say I was looking forward to playing against them.

“They are a very good side and playing really good footy but at the same time we’re playing good footy as well so we go in with plenty of confidence.

“I think they will cheer and be really happy for me.

“As former Adelaide coach Neil Craig liked to say: “You are now the enemy and you will be treated as such.”

“I expect to be treated as such.”

Whether or not he is treated as the enemy is irrelevant. For pure punting purposes, it is about how many touches he can gather.

And we’re backing him to repeat his remarkable debut performance for the Cats against the Hawks and break through the 40 possession mark.

We know it is a long shot, considering he has achieved that mark only twice in his career, but this is a special game and he tends to lift for the special ones.

In the pick your own disposal market, Dangerfield is a juicy $15 to eclipse 40 possessions.

If you think he is still going to have a blinder, but worried 40 touches might be a stretch, he is $5.60 to have 35 or more and a more achievable even money for 30 touches or more.

Of course, there is a risk with Dangerfield, because, at times, he can exact maximum damage with minimum possession – he has had more than 25 disposals in every game but one this season, but only had 30 or more twice.

So whatever way you go, expect this kid to do something special on his return to Adelaide as he cops plenty of heat from fans and players alike.

Match predictions

Match result: Geelong Cats win ($1.92 with sportsbet.com.au)

Line betting: Geelong Cats +0.5 ($1.90 with sportsbet.com.au)

In a seriously tough match to predict, we’re going with the Cats on the back of five wins in a row. They are in sterling form and have no fear of travelling. And, while Adelaide has also been hailed as one of the best sides in the competition, the reality is they have struggled to get over the line in the close ones and we feel like the battle hardened Cats’ top end of Joel Selwood, Dangerfield, Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright has too much character and experience to let this one slip away. The bookies simply can’t split them, with most having them at the same quote in head to head markets and that is why this one is so tough. But the Crows need more out of captain Taylor Walker and will need to somehow find a way to break even with that much vaunted Cats midfield if they are to have a chance. They could do with some more production and better ball use from midfielder Rory Sloane, who was expected to take the mantle from Dangerfield, but has yet to show he is capable of that, preferring to leave the serious work to veteran Scott Thompson, who has done it with aplomb. Expect the Cats to will themselves over the line in a close one. We’re going with the Cats by seven points, keeping the ladder heat on North Melbourne at the top of the AFL table.