HE’S STILL yet to play an AFL game, but the Crows first-round draft pick, Patrick Dangerfield, continues to attract plenty of attention.

On Saturday, Dangerfield lined-up for SANFL club West Adelaide at The Parade and was cleaned up by a Norwood opponent in the first quarter.

“I haven’t copped a knock that big before,” Dangerfield said with a laugh.

“I think it was Norwood’s full forward, but honestly I couldn’t tell you; I don’t remember it all that well.

“It hasn’t been a massive change from the Under 18s to the SANFL. The TAC Cup speed isn’t too far behind the SANFL, but obviously there are bigger bodies in the SANFL and when you get hit, you stay down for longer.”

Dangerfield, in a credit to his diligent nature and competitiveness, returned to the field in the second quarter and went on to gather 15 possessions playing across half-back.

But the 18-year-old, who is halfway through his Year 12 studies at Oberon High School in Victoria, has spent the majority of the season playing for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.

Dangerfield, who has been shifted out of the Falcons midfield in order to develop more of his non-AFL listed teammates, has also become a target at U18s level courtesy of an eight-goal haul earlier in the year.

After nine rounds, the level-headed Crow actually led the TAC Cup goalkicking.

“The last couple of weeks of TAC Cup have been interesting actually,” he said.

“You get a lot of lip when you run out. Guys sometimes try to jab little cheap shots in, but that’s part of it I suppose. I’m just lucky the AFL has allowed me to play in the Under 18 competition.”

In November, an unwitting Dangerfield was thrust into a cauldron of speculation when the Crows selected him at pick 10 ahead of local lad Brad Ebert.

Comparisons between he and Ebert resurfaced in round two when Ebert made his AFL debut against the Crows and, again, in round nine when the former SA U18 captain played a key role in West Coast’s handsome defeat of Adelaide at Subiaco.

“It’s funny. I speak to Brad quite a bit and give him a text message each week just to see how he’s going,” Dangerfield said.

“Obviously, I’ve seen a few articles, but you don’t read too much into it. He’s got his career, I’ve got mine and hopefully we’ll both do the best we can.”

Dangerfield, too, has come close to making his AFL debut, having been named an emergency on several occasions this season.

“It has been hard watching, but at the same time you get excited throughout the week when you get the call and find out that guys like Jarrhan [Jacky] and Andy Otten are making their debut. You’re envious, but it’s also very exciting as well,” he said.

“Hopefully, when my chance to play does come, I’ll be prepared because I’ll know what the routine is from having been an emergency a few times. From that side of things, it’s been invaluable to be a part of the atmosphere leading up to the game and travelling out of the state as well.

“The year has absolutely flown by. It’s amazing to think half the year has gone by and the clock is ticking down now to when I come over full-time and pre-season starts.