ADELAIDE is doing everything possible to re-sign prospective free agent Patrick Dangerfield, coach Phil Walsh said after the club's 19-point loss to Geelong in the NAB Challenge on Thursday night.
However his only demand of Dangerfield in 2015 will be to perform at his best, an expectation Walsh says he has of all players.
The midfielder played well in his first game for the season, kicking two goals and racking up 20 disposals.
His performance pleased Walsh enough for the new coach to shrug off the fact a digital image of Dangerfield wearing a Geelong jumper was flashed on the Simonds Stadium scoreboard during the third quarter as it relayed the Fox Footy feed of the game.
"You're in Geelong. You know that is going to happen," Walsh said.
Dangerfield grew up in Geelong and his name has been linked to the club throughout the pre-season.
Walsh said he had already had private conversations with the star Crow about the situation but the discussions would remain private.
"He's contracted to the Adelaide Football Club and he has to perform at the best that we expect of all our players and that is all I've asked him to do," Walsh said.
Walsh said the plan was to introduce Dangerfield into the NAB Challenge by playing forward but he was needed on the ball in the second quarter after the Cats' intensity overwhelmed the Crows early.
"I thought his second quarter got us back going again," Walsh said.
Walsh said his players didn't deal with the Cats' pressure early, but he was pleased with patches where they matched and even outplayed Geelong.
He conceded the club struggled to find avenues for goal with the talented Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker relatively quiet, although he did say the skipper had improved on his effort in the first week.
He said team defence would be critical to protect his backline but he had faith that Daniel Talia – who played well – Kyle Hartigan, former Cat James Podsiadly and Kyle Cheney would stand up in the back half.
Despite the result Walsh said there were enough encouraging signs from young midfielders Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Brad Crouch and Brodie Martin to give supporters hope and he was pleased the team was able to restrict the Cats to just 42 inside 50s.
