View Full Version : Blake staring in the ruck
Just do something
16 Jul 2007, 21:21
Was it just me or with Mark Blake starting in the ruck on saturday and Ottens at Full forward maybe be a sign that Thompson may be looking at changing things up a bit. (Steven King waiting in the wings)
I cant remeber many times in the last 8 or so weeks when Blake has started at the first bounce before Ottens.
Thoughts???
nananana catman
16 Jul 2007, 21:25
The first 2 Collingwood goals came about from Fraser getting free around the ground and winning in the centre bounces.
As soon as Ottens went in there we got back into the game.
Cheshire Cat
16 Jul 2007, 21:26
Was it just me or with Mark Blake starting in the ruck on saturday and Ottens at Full forward maybe be a sign that Thompson may be looking at changing things up a bit. (Steven King waiting in the wings)
I cant remeber many times in the last 8 or so weeks when Blake has started at the first bounce before Ottens.
Thoughts???
I think it shouldnt happen again. Ottens is our predominant ruckmen, Blake/King should be used off the bench when Ottens neds to be rested. Ottens should not play forward either it spells disaster. Keep our forward structure the way it is, keep Ottens in the ruck. Blake to be used sparingly
I don't think it was actually such a bad move... Blake was getting beaten around the ground by Fraser - I don't think every team is going to have a ruckman as mobile as him.
CatmanForever
16 Jul 2007, 22:10
The first 2 Collingwood goals came about from Fraser getting free around the ground and winning in the centre bounces.
As soon as Ottens went in there we got back into the game.
The first 2 goals came from Corey Enright kicking the ball directly to Cloke and then later to Medhurst. I wonder if it was the clash of jumpers or just his usual disposal he has at times. Don't get me wrong despite his first 5 minutes he went on to have a great game to his credit.
Blake has opened the ruck a few times this season and Fraser is the first person I have seen comprehensively beat him. Would have been a great learning curve for the young lad.
Paper said Blake had 12 hit outs - 0 to advantage. Exactly as it looked in the stands too. I thought it was a worrying stat - Blake has been so good this year with hit outs to advantage, probably more than even Ottens. Perhaps this is a good reason to attempt to get King back in and match fit.
scottydeewah
17 Jul 2007, 06:11
I wouldnt be too worried. Unc is a player i could see beating blake as he is the same type of ruckman just about 5 years more advanced. Also even the best players are going to have great games every week so it isnt surprising that he has a couple of bad ones. As long as he sticks with it, gets in the mix, throws himself around and busts his guts he should go alright. (oh and cant have a bad game in the finals - is that too harsh?!)
It will be interesting to see if King gets back. I dont see how he can really. Would love to see him do it though, just cant imagine that hard.
Otto shouldnt play very often as a proper forward but definitely should be a goalkicking ruckman. He has great mits and can kick as well as most big men. I like him on the HFF pushing forward when Moons and NAB lead up to get around the back into the goalsquare.
kinggaz29
17 Jul 2007, 09:19
Paper said Blake had 12 hit outs - 0 to advantage. Exactly as it looked in the stands too. I thought it was a worrying stat - Blake has been so good this year with hit outs to advantage, probably more than even Ottens. Perhaps this is a good reason to attempt to get King back in and match fit.
One bad game and you wanna give him the chop!
Blakey has been fantatstic this year and a reason why we are going as good as we are.
I say keep him in and kingy can keep servinf his pennants in the twos!
I don't think it was actually such a bad move... Blake was getting beaten around the ground by Fraser - I don't think every team is going to have a ruckman as mobile as him.
I agree. Fraser's mobility was too much for him though its the first time this year he has been comprehensively outpointed (from memory, maybe struggled in kangas game).
Re King, if he is fully fit, he is definitely in our best 22. Yes, he has struggled with injuries but IMO has been rushed back too quickly in the past, as we have struggled to cover for him. I think we have all forgotten how good he can be. If his body is not up to it though I will be the first to nominate him for trade bait.
darren forssman
17 Jul 2007, 09:36
The first 2 Collingwood goals came about from Fraser getting free around the ground and winning in the centre bounces.
As soon as Ottens went in there we got back into the game.
that was the stupidest game day move, having ottens at full forward.
i know it was probably to exploit the magpies deficient defence but ottens has been killing it in the ruck.
G_Money
17 Jul 2007, 09:58
The first 2 goals came from Corey Enright kicking the ball directly to Cloke and then later to Medhurst. I wonder if it was the clash of jumpers or just his usual disposal he has at times. Don't get me wrong despite his first 5 minutes he went on to have a great game to his credit.
Blake has opened the ruck a few times this season and Fraser is the first person I have seen comprehensively beat him. Would have been a great learning curve for the young lad.
Well that's not correct. The second goal Medhurst and Enright were in a marking contest, Medhurst edged Boris under the ball and marked. He probably could have done better in the contest, but he definitely didn't kick it to him.
Oscarlett
17 Jul 2007, 09:58
Blake had his worst game for the year, and with King ready to come back (so it seems) a change is on the board.
Prismall32
17 Jul 2007, 10:21
Blake had his worst game for the year, and with King ready to come back (so it seems) a change is on the board.
I think you mean "starring" rather than "staring" - off-putting as a title initially. Blake has been great for us up to this point and Josh Fraser (fanatical Cats supporter as a kid!) was at his best - I thought from the start that he would battle but I was not too worried by it. I reckon King should only return if he's 100% fit and all of last year he was about 50%. Blakey's kick will go down in history as his 'best' but you could see Collingwood cover anyone around him knowing that he always handballs. ( Just a blip) . I'm a real fan of Blake's - he typifies what we have become this year.
Oscarlett
17 Jul 2007, 10:37
Yeah I agree, Blake has been a integral part of our fortunes this year. But if King can get back to 75% of his best form I would still take him. He could become a real wild card for us for the remainder of the year.
Another good thing is, it looks as if we have a ruckman that can lead the division for the next 5-10 yrs.
thejester
17 Jul 2007, 12:07
Ottens going to full forward was simply an attempt to break a badly undermanned Collingwood defence. Blake is a good ruckman but needs to improve his skills around the ground - that's undeniable, and Fraser definitely had the better of him in that role.
A similar situation occurred against the Bulldogs, where Ottens was pushed forward and looked the only dangerous target so stayed there. Blake got baked in the ruck as a result. Hopefully this won't be a problem, as our forward line would looks much more potent even without the third tall - quite apart from Dog being back in the side, one of our major problems was that Selwood was played as a crumbing forward and simply had no idea what to do. He'd be a certainty to spend his time on the ball, freeing up Chappy to go forward and wreak more havoc.
And people are seriously overrating King here. Ever since his injuries he's been woeful around the ground. Let him get some serious game time in the VFL before we bring him back in.
Prismall32
17 Jul 2007, 12:22
And people are seriously overrating King here. Ever since his injuries he's been woeful around the ground. Let him get some serious game time in the VFL before we bring him back in.This is a real worry. Remember him running around like a lame giraffe last year? He's a Bomber pet - hopefully we are past that! I don't want to see him replace Blake - unless he has proved himself. Talk about him being AA ruckman etc is all history!
Oscarlett
17 Jul 2007, 13:16
For mine, King with another couple of successful games under his belt in the VFL, and I reckon he could well find himself in the 1's.
Selwood07
17 Jul 2007, 16:55
For mine, King with another couple of successful games under his belt in the VFL, and I reckon he could well find himself in the 1's.
I was a great admirer of Steven King but like others was annoyed that he carried an injury into the 2006 season - and it was hushed up. We'd all like to see a fit King play finals, I'm sure. All credit to young Blake nevertheless!
Partridge
17 Jul 2007, 18:35
Ottens going to full forward was simply an attempt to break a badly undermanned Collingwood defence. Blake is a good ruckman but needs to improve his skills around the ground - that's undeniable, and Fraser definitely had the better of him in that role.
A similar situation occurred against the Bulldogs, where Ottens was pushed forward and looked the only dangerous target so stayed there. Blake got baked in the ruck as a result.
Maybe, but if you wanted to break an undermanned defence, why not start with Hawkins at full-forward? An actual key forward instead of a resting ruckman. Notice that once the switch was made (Blake off, Hawkins on, Ottens ruck) we kicked the next 5 goals?
Secondly, Ottens was NEVER dangerous in round 1 against Footscray. He was thrashed by Cameron Wight. Yet another lesson in why Ottens should play in the ruck and nowhere else.
I don't really care whether Blake or King is the second ruckman Friday night. But Ottens is the first ruckman, and I hope he never even enters forward 50. Leave it to Mooney and Hawkins, and/or Nathan Ablett. They're our key forwards. End of story.
cat in sydney
17 Jul 2007, 18:44
Was it just me or with Mark Blake starting in the ruck on saturday and Ottens at Full forward maybe be a sign that Thompson may be looking at changing things up a bit. (Steven King waiting in the wings)
I cant remeber many times in the last 8 or so weeks when Blake has started at the first bounce before Ottens.
Thoughts???
If Thompson was using that as an experiment to find out whether Blake and King could handle the ruck and Ottens dominate at FF, then I think it was pretty clear that this is not an option.
Blake or King, doesn't matter. Ottens needs to be in the ruck. Simple.