Dangerfield has undoubtedly become the club's best player in 2013 and his absence will be sorely noticed.
But after Rory Sloane talked up Dangerfield’s ability to lift the side through courageous acts or skill, Sanderson admitted it would test the club's character to perform without him.
"He's a leader of our team…he does things in a game which (not only) send a message to the rest of his teammates, but also the opposition," Sanderson said.
"Even last year, Geelong beat us at Kardinia Park last year but Dangerfield's two goals in the wet really got us back in the game.
"No one can replace Dangerfield."
In the star’s absence, Sanderson demanded the side's other midfielders stepped up to the plate.
Preview: Adelaide v Geelong
He declared veteran Scott Thompson fit to play, but said the club would have to "get a bit creative" to cover the loss of Dangerfield.
Last week's emergency, Mitch Grigg, looms a likely replacement after consistent form for Norwood in the SANFL.
Sanderson also dropped the likes of Jared Petrenko and Richard Tambling into the equation, but talked up Grigg's ability on the inside.
"He's a 19-year-old who's had a good year for Norwood. He's a good inside midfielder - as we said, he's not Patrick Dangerfield…but whoever comes into the side this week just needs to play his role," he said.
"Sam Shaw's back playing now and obviously Lewis Johnston's back playing – we could play them forward and shift one of those forwards – Matty Wright's spent a lot of time in the forward line the last couple of weeks, maybe he gets injected back into the midfield.
"Through match committee we'll throw up a lot of different scenarios.
"It's an opportunity for a player to come into our side this week and to contribute, not to be Patrick Dangerfield, but to contribute to how the team plays."
He declared veteran Scott Thompson fit to play, but said the club would have to "get a bit creative" to cover the loss of Dangerfield.
Last week's emergency, Mitch Grigg, looms a likely replacement after consistent form for Norwood in the SANFL.
Sanderson also dropped the likes of Jared Petrenko and Richard Tambling into the equation, but talked up Grigg's ability on the inside.
"He's a 19-year-old who's had a good year for Norwood. He's a good inside midfielder - as we said, he's not Patrick Dangerfield…but whoever comes into the side this week just needs to play his role," he said.
"Sam Shaw's back playing now and obviously Lewis Johnston's back playing – we could play them forward and shift one of those forwards – Matty Wright's spent a lot of time in the forward line the last couple of weeks, maybe he gets injected back into the midfield.
"Through match committee we'll throw up a lot of different scenarios.
"It's an opportunity for a player to come into our side this week and to contribute, not to be Patrick Dangerfield, but to contribute to how the team plays."
As the mathematical chance of Adelaide playing finals approached impossibility Sanderson continued to deny he'd get games into players to prepare for 2014.
Grigg and Johnston are two who haven't managed an AFL berth this season despite significant form at SANFL level.
Johnston has been injured, admittedly, but the coach insisted players wouldn't be selected just so he could test them.
"What we're going to do is pick our best 22 for every game for the remainder of the season," he said.
"Whether that's a younger player or a senior player, we're going to pick a side each week that we expect to win regardless of our position on the ladder.
"We won't just pick a player because we want to have a look at him – that's the wrong message we send to the rest of the group and our fans.
"However we finish this year we just have to fight it out to the last quarter of the last game."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
