GEELONG star Patrick Dangerfield has fired back at Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes after he was accused of playing up a minor injury.
The Cats midfielder hobbled off the field against the Bulldogs in the last quarter of Saturday's win at GMHBA Stadium and was later seen on crutches.
Post-game, his coach Chris Scott said the spectacle was all part of the "Danger show".
On AFL.com.au, Cornes accused Dangerfield of turning his injuries into "a spectacle".
Patrick Dangerfield headed to the rooms for treatment after this passage of play.#AFLCatsDogs pic.twitter.com/TorQKujAUf
— AFL (@AFL) May 18, 2019
"He's got to get this out of his game," Cornes told The Round So Far.
"There's a bit of carry on there and even the coach admitted that after the game. I don't think it's a good look.
"It's probably the only criticism you could give Patrick for his career, but I'm not sure he needs the crutches."
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Speaking to reporters on Monday morning at the Cattery, Dangerfield hit back at Cornes for questioning his character.
"Kane can say what he likes, and does," he said.
"I think you can get into a position though where you keep trotting out the same line and people start to dismiss your commentary.
He's probably in that unfortunate position now where he speaks and people don't really listen - Patrick Dangerfield on Kane Cornes
"There's some in the industry that you value their opinion, and there's plenty of those, and then there's others that you can dismiss pretty quickly, and you don't lose any sleep over."
Dangerfield said Saturday's ankle injury was a recurrence of a sprain he sustained against the Bombers back in round seven.
While he said it was feeling fine on Monday, he wouldn't rule out having a rest this weekend against Gold Coast.
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"I think we've shown this year we haven't really taken risks where we don't need to. But it's only Monday and the game is Saturday so I've still got a few days to recover, he said.
As for his coach fueling the debate with his post-match comments, Dangerfield joked there was a rift forming.
"Look, Chris and my relationship has really soured over the last two weeks," the Cats star laughed.
"I think that's off the back of (Channel 7's) The Front Bar and the photo I helped put up. I think when you pose in front of a fireplace with your dog without a top on, you're going to get what's coming to you."