GEELONG superstar Patrick Dangerfield takes on Adelaide for the first time on Friday night since leaving the club at the end of last season. Lee Gaskin takes a look at how a dozen of the game's stars have fared when facing their former teams, with varying levels of success.
1. Chris Judd (134 games for West Coast 2002-07)
Round seven, 2008: Carlton 17.9 (111) defeated West Coast 10.14 (74) at Domain Stadium.
Judd: 24 disposals, 11 kicks, 13 handballs, 15 contested possessions, 5 clearances, 3 marks.
The dual Brownlow medallist had a stellar game in his return to Perth to lead Carlton to a 37-point win. Judd also delivered a classic sledge to former teammates Brett Jones and Adam Selwood, claiming his shoulders were sore because, "I've been carrying you guys for five years."
2. Gary Ablett (192 games for Geelong 2002-10)
Round 10, 2011: Geelong 21.13 (139) defeated Gold Coast 10.13 (73) at Metricon Stadium.
Ablett: 31 disposals, 13 kicks, 18 handballs, 18 contested possessions, 8 clearances, 4 tackles.
Ablett played a lone hand for the youthful Suns team in their debut season. It was no different in their round 10 clash against Geelong when he amassed 31 disposals, 18 contested possessions and had eight clearances. But the Cats had too many weapons and ran out 66-point winners on the Gold Coast.
3. Wayne Carey (244 games for North Melbourne 1989-01)
It got heated when Wayne Carey took on the Kangaroos for the first time. Picture: AFL Media
Round six, 2003: Adelaide 19.10 (124) defeated North Melbourne 9.16 (70) at Etihad Stadium.
Carey: 4 goals, 7 kicks, 3 marks.
Carey slotted four goals and the Crows took the honours by 54 points, but all anyone remembers about this clash was the confrontation with former teammate Glenn Archer. Archer feigned to punch Carey in the second quarter, drawing a flinch out of the ex-North Melbourne champion. Archer briefly marked up on Carey, but Leigh Colbert got the job for the majority of the contest. Carey's third goal, seven minutes into the last quarter, sealed victory for the Crows.
4. Lance Franklin (182 games for Hawthorn 2005-13)
Round eight, 2014: Sydney Swans 15.17 (107) defeated Hawthorn 13.10 (88) at ANZ Stadium.
Franklin: 21 disposals, 15 kicks, 10 marks, two goals, seven behinds, 4 inside 50s, 6 frees against.
Buddy left his kicking boots back in Melbourne when he took on the Hawks for the first time. Franklin sprayed them all over the shop at ANZ Stadium, kicking 2.7 from nine scoring shots and giving away six free kicks, but he still impacted the game with 21 disposals and 10 marks. The Swans overcame an inaccurate night from their spearhead for a 19-point win.
5. Brendan Fevola (187 games for Carlton 1999-09)
Round two, 2010: Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) defeated Carlton 12.16 (88) at The Gabba.
Fevola: 3 goals, 3 behinds, 6 kicks, 3 marks, 2 tackles.
It was a case of quality over quantity for Fevola when he took on the Blues at the Gabba. Fevola finished with a return of 3.3 from six kicks and three marks to provide a focal point for the Lions' attack. While the contingent of travelling Blues fans never let up, Fevola had the last laugh as the Lions won by 19 points.
6. Tom Scully (31 games for Melbourne 2010-11)
Round 13, 2012: Melbourne 20.15 (135) defeated Greater Western Sydney 9.3 (57) at the MCG.
Scully: 19 disposals, 6 kicks, 13 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 4 marks, 5 tackles.
Demons supporters got stuck into Scully every time the former No.1 draft pick was near the ball. Melbourne smashed the youthful Giants by 78 points in a one-sided contest at the MCG. Scully had 19 touches, but only six kicks as he struggled to live up to his hefty price tag.
Melbourne fans taunt Tom Scully with cash. Picture: AFL Media
7. Brendon Goddard (205 games for St Kilda 2003-12)
Round four, 2013: Essendon 19.14 (128) defeated St Kilda 13.13 (91) at Etihad Stadium.
Goddard: 23 disposals, 14 kicks, 9 handballs, 13 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 6 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 4 marks.
It was an emotional game for Goddard in his first clash against his old club, breaking down in tears in his post-game interview. As one of the competition's first free agents, Goddard paid the Bombers back immediately with 23 touches, six clearances and five inside 50s in their 37-point win against the Saints.
8. Dayne Beams (110 games for Collingwood 2009-14)
Round one, 2015: Collingwood 12.14 (86) defeated Brisbane Lions 11.8 (74) at The Gabba.
Beams: 33 disposals, 26 handballs, 7 kicks, 19 contested possessions, 9 clearances.
A chance to be closer to his family led Beams to the Lions and he didn't have to wait long to face Collingwood for the first time. In the opening round of 2015, Beams had 26 handballs, 19 contested possessions and nine clearances, but the Magpies prevailed by 12 points at the Gabba.
9. Ben Cousins (238 games for West Coast 1996-07)
Round 12, 2009: Richmond 13.14 (92) defeated West Coast 11.11 (77) at Etihad Stadium.
Cousins: 28 disposals, 9 kicks, 19 handballs, 18 uncontested possessions, 5 clearances.
After a year out of the game, Cousins saved one of his best performances of his comeback season for the club where he made his name. Cousins provided plenty of outside run for the Tigers, collecting 28 possessions, including 19 handballs, and five clearances to help Richmond to a 15-point win over West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
10. Eddie Betts (184 games for Carlton 2005-13)
Round 10, 2014: Carlton 12.9 (81) defeated Adelaide 10.16 (76) at the MCG.
Betts: 4 goals, 1 behind, 13 disposals, 8 kicks, 4 tackles.
Betts produced some of his trademark magic with four goals to show exactly why Adelaide handed him a lucrative four-year contract to leave the Blues. But it wasn't enough for get the Crows over the line as Carlton held on for a thrilling five-point victory at the MCG.
Eddie Betts continues to show what Carlton is missing out on. Picture: AFL Media
11. Ryan Griffen (202 games for Western Bulldogs 2005-14)
Round nine, 2015: Western Bulldogs 16.17 (113) defeated Greater Western Sydney 11.2 (68) at Etihad Stadium.
Griffen: 10 disposals, 4 kicks, 6 handballs, 1 goal.
After more than 200 games for the Bulldogs, Griffen requested a trade to the Giants at the end of 2014. The former captain had little impact in his first game against his old club, collecting just 10 disposals in a 45-point loss at Etihad Stadium last year.
12. Tony Modra (118 games for Adelaide 1992-98)
Round 11, 1999: Fremantle 18.14 (122) defeated Adelaide 12.11 (83) at Domain Stadium.
Modra: 14 kicks, 6 marks, 4 goals, 3 behinds.
Told he wasn't wanted by the Crows after coming back from a knee reconstruction, high-flying forward Tony Modra received a second chance with the Dockers. Modra rewarded the Perth crowd with a vintage performance, slotting four goals from 14 kicks and six marks and leading Fremantle to a 39-point victory.
