A WEEK after labelling Patrick Dangerfield as one of the standout candidates for the best player he’s played against, Sam Walsh has received an impressive nod from the Brownlow Medallist himself.

It was on Sam Walsh’s Talking Gibber-Fish appearance last week when he singled out Dangerfield’s explosive power as a trait which stood out, particularly in the final game of Walsh’s first season.

But after the 21-year-old’s showing on the weekend, it was the Geelong champion who was heaping praise on the No.18 in Navy Blue.

Speaking on SEN earlier today, Dangerfield said Walsh’s performance on the weekend - which yielded a perfect 10 in the coaches’ votes - was another example of a future star at work.

“It’s one thing to watch what he’s done this season and play wonderful games of footy: he is just the complete package,” Dangerfield said.

“Not everything is about possessions, but in his third year he has gone from 20-25 to now averaging 30, kicking goals and breaking lines.

“The difference maker for someone like Sam is he has a rare combination of great endurance but also really good speed, and what he’s continuing to add to his game this year is a great contested brand of footy.

“When it’s contested, he’s ready to roll and when it breaks into space, he’s as good as anyone in the game.

“I think we’re seeing the start of what’s going to be a spectacular career.”

The exclamation mark in Walsh’s individual showing was his running goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter: the first of two kicked by the midfielder in the final term.

The passage of play started for Walsh when he was opposed to last year’s All-Australian captain, who couldn’t help but smile when he watched it all unfold.

“I did laugh to myself: I cannot go with him,” Dangerfield said.

“He took the second bounce and I thought ‘he’s going to kick a [checkside] here that’s going to bring the house down’. He’s so good by foot and he obviously balances the brute strength and brutality of Cripps inside, but he can do that as well.

“That’s where he’s getting better and better. He’s such a humble person when you speak to him once the game is completed.”

Sam Walsh on his best opponents to date:

“There are always tough opponents for different reasons. I remember in my first year, in the last game of the season and Dangerfield would have had [34 disposals] and kicked four goals. Whenever it was in his area, you just noticed his power stood out massively.”