• Who's on the move? Check out the status of 2015's free agents

SUPERSTAR free agent Patrick Dangerfield intends to walk out on Adelaide after eight seasons and is expected to join Geelong in October.

The club confirmed on Wednesday that the 25-year-old would exercise his right as a restricted free agent and "return home to Victoria".

Dangerfield is widely tipped to sign with the Cats given the club's proximity to his hometown Moggs Creek. AFL.com.au believes a five or six-year deal is on the table worth $800,000 a year.

Adelaide now has the chance to match any offer the Cats make and CEO Andrew Fagan said the club would consider its options.

• Dangerfield's top 10 greatest hits

"Whilst disappointing, we understand that Patrick's decision has been made for personal reasons," Fagan said. 

"We will now consider our options, however, our members and supporters should rest assured that in doing so we will make decisions and take action that is in the best interests of our football club.”     

Dangerfield's performance in 2015, amid intense and constant questioning over his future has been nothing short of phenomenal. 

He averaged a career-best 26.8 disposals a game and was ranked second in the League for contested possessions.

He is expected to take out the Malcolm Blight Medal as club champion on Saturday night and is one of the favourites for Monday night's Brownlow Medal.

Dangerfield was drafted by the Crows with pick No.10 at the 2007 NAB AFL draft, taken ahead of home-town favourite Brad Ebert.

He has finished inside the top three in Adelaide's best and fairest in each of the past three seasons; he was runner-up to Scott Thompson in 2012 and third in 2013 and 2014. 

WHAT IS AN AFL RESTRICTED FREE AGENT?
-Players in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their club are eligible the first time they're out of contract, if they have been with the team at least eight years
-They have the right to move to a team of their choice, subject to the current club's first right of refusal over their services
-If the current side can 'match' the offer from a suitor club, the player must stay or enter the draft
-But the current team can still do a trade deal with the player's suitor club

Patrick Dangerfield fact box
Age: 25
Height: 185cm
Weight: 90kg
Home town: Moggs Creek, Victoria
Drafted: No.10, 2007 NAB AFL Draft from Geelong Falcons
Player honours: 2nd best and fariest 2012, third best and fairest 2013, 2014; All Australian 2012, 2013, 2015; International Rules Series 2010, 2014; NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee 2009
Brownlow Medal: 2014 votes 21, career votes 75
Games: 154
Goals: 163