In what must be seen as a template for the management of player movement and free agency, Dangerfield's soon-to-be-announced five-year deal with the Cats cannot be faulted in terms of how professionally every party involved has handled the sensitive situation.

Although the Crows' language has changed since they knew for certain what was coming, every club official and player has followed the example of the late Phillip Walsh in simply refusing to speak in anything but general terms during the past 12 months about their devastatingly talented midfielder.

The negotiations have been carried out behind the scenes between Dangerfield and his manager Paul Connors, and Geelong's football chief Steve Hocking and his recruiting boss Stephen Wells. Only the formalities remain. Adelaide have dealt with all their key remaining out-of-contract players since the middle of the year and have no expectation of changing the mind of their 2007 first-round draft pick, who was once seen as a risky choice.

The Cats still bristle at the supposed hypocrisy of those clubs who criticised their disrespectful Travis Boak mission in 2012, but the fact remains it was a poor show by Geelong that day and uncharacteristic of those involved. The club has learned its lesson.

The Cats supporters might have cheered Dangerfield at Simonds Stadium in round 23 but that was regarded more with amused affection than insulted outrage.

And this is not to single out player manager Liam Pickering, but Connors is a different breed. Neither Geelong nor Adelaide are expecting a Lance Franklin-style last minute shock. Dangerfield is not double-dealing. The only question remaining is when, not if. And the Cats fully expect Adelaide to play hardball over the trade period and the issue of compensation.

Franklin's last game with Hawthorn was a victorious grand final. Dangerfield's was a humiliating finals defeat in which he was Adelaide's best player after a season of previously unimaginable proportions. The manner in which some teammates embraced him as they departed the MCG arena was telling.

The prevailing view is that Dangerfield will not make his public call in the coming days although circumstances could change that. The current plan is that he will announce his decision next week after the Brownlow Medal awards at which he will start one of the favourites.

Two days earlier, at what will prove a watershed night for the Adelaide Football Club, Dangerfield will surely win his first Malcolm Blight Medal, the Crows' best and fairest award. The function looms as an event of some closure for Adelaide at which the club must formally call a regretful end to the short but significant Walsh era and start a new chapter. At this stage Dangerfield appears determined to celebrate the event as a fully-fledged Adelaide footballer.

At the start of the 2015 season it was communicated to Dangerfield that his decision not to re-sign with the club would only be addressed if the ongoing dialogue and controversy were affecting his football. He has responded with his best season yet.

Off-field, Dangerfield has stepped up like his senior teammates following Walsh's death and, according to the club, has not put a foot wrong in terms of engagement. Dangerfield oversaw the renovation, design and furniture for the relatively new players' retreat at Westlakes - a massive new private lounge for the Crows footballers.

Dangerfield told Fairfax Media at the start of the 2014 season that his decision on his future would not centre upon money but upon the Crows' prospects and direction. By the season's end he was upset at being linked with a players' push which contributed to the sacking of coach Brenton Sanderson but there is no doubt Dangerfield and other on-field leaders saw the need for change and said as much.

He leaves the Crows with the club once again at the crossroads. Walsh seemed an inspired choice as senior coach, and the emergency call-up of John Worsfold and promotion of midfield coach Scott Camporeale proved inspiring also, but the next decision on a senior coach remains equally crucial.

But Dangerfield has told the club he is quitting purely for personal reasons.  "It's not you", he essentially said, "it's me". His self-confessed tendency to harass Noble and debate personnel, list management and other football decisions has not abated this season even though Dangerfield had virtually decided well before the Walsh tragedy that he would be leaving.

In January he will marry his fiancée Mardi Harwood back home on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula and he wants to move home permanently.

Dangerfield has stressed  to the club that he has full faith in Adelaide's future.

Certainly on paper the Crows look every bit as promising as Geelong, although the Dangerfield defection will significantly readdress the fortunes of both clubs. Adelaide cannot fault Dangerfield, his camp nor Geelong for the manner in which they have handled this. Except for the fact that he's doing it.