GEELONG superstar Patrick Dangerfield made no excuses for his below par performance against Collingwood on Sunday.
He admitted he is managing soreness, but suspects he is feeling no different to most players in the AFL at this stage of the season.
The Brownlow medallist copped a heavy knock from Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead in the first quarter of the Easter Monday clash and struggled to have his usual influence on the game although he picked up 27 touches.
He played well against St Kilda with two big goals in the last quarter but he failed to fire against the Magpies with just 21 disposals and two tackles.
"Everyone has knocks in AFL footy," Dangerfield said.
"There is no player that goes into each game feeling 100 per cent fit. It is just about managing yourself the best you can and putting yourself in a position to perform, not just roll up and contribute."
Cats coach Chris Scott said Dangerfield was pushed forward on Sunday because the team needed contested ball winners inside the forward half.
He said Dangerfield was probably a victim of his lofty standards.
"They set high standards for themselves don't they? If they don't tear a game apart, well even we sort of ask ourselves what is wrong with him, why isn't he smashing them?" Scott said.
"It doesn't happen every week. It's a hard game."
Meanwhile, Dangerfield is looking forward to battling former Cat and Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett next week at Metricon Stadium.
"He's playing all right. I watched him last night and he was sublime, so he's certainly one we're going to have to put a bit of work into," Dangerfield said.
"Every team has wonderful players that you need to be aware of but 'The Little Master' is pretty special."
