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News Mark Blake retires

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Just saw this come up on twitter. If true, it ends a bizarre career as Blake has gone from cult favourite to outcast.
 
Ty-Land said:
Just saw this come up on twitter. If true, it ends a bizarre career as Blake has gone from cult favourite to outcast.
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That was sort of my thinking too - surely he'd put his hat into the ring for another club, maybe? Although perhaps his management have made enquiries, with not much interest coming back.

If true, it's a sad way for a premiership player to bow out - but the introduction of the sub rule and the resultant change in direction/skillset for ruckmen did him no favours.
 
Still thought he was a top tap ruckman and servicable around the ground.

Didnt have room on our list for him but thought he would find another home. Surprised he didn't.

Best of luck for future Blakey.

Will always be a Premiership ruckman.

Go Catters
 

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Pretty disappointed for him to end on 99 games. But he's still a premiership player, and his work when Ottens went down shouldn't be unappreciated like it is. I guess the sub rule really did finish his career.

Still love this game, haha.

[youtube]vyi2-fJJ2QY[/youtube]

:thumbsu:
 
Will this be the same as St.Kilda when they said Steven Baker and Robert Eddy had "retired". Both players then came out and said they haven't retired.

Seems strange that Blake wouldn't have a crack at trying to get drafted.
 
LifeSpan-Void said:
Sub rule has killed his career and he knows it
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Yep. Never (that I can recall) has one player in the comp been more disproportionally affected by a rule change than any other player in the comp.

Sad for Blakey, he gave his best and was durable for us during critical parts of the premiership era. I wish him all the best for whatever he does in the future.
 
I have only joined bigfooty recently after following it for a couple of years. Great to hear some encouraging comments on this thread however a lot of Geelong barrackers (not supporters) have shown how fickle they are. Sure, we have been winning the last 5-6 years but in that time many have still found time to rip into some players. Imagine what it was like for Blake to put up with the constant critics in the Advertiser and online, that the paper publishes some of the comments from supporters in its txt the editor is a contradiction when at years end they paint the paper blue and white and preach how much we love each player! I reckon many opposition rucks did not like playing against Blake as he makes a contest in the middle. He should have played in 07, sure King got some kicks but what AFL player wouldn't when your team is 15 goals up! I know the players are well renumerated but I reckon with the amount of scrutiny they come under the day will come when a player succumbs to the pressure and then its too late.
 
I think "retiring" is the new delisted.

But in all honesty he is still a premiership ruckman and you can't deny him that. For all his short comings and there are many he always gave 100% and you can't do anymore than that. All the best big fella.
 
Howisthat said:
He should have played in 07, sure King got some kicks but what AFL player wouldn't when your team is 15 goals up!
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I think you've got to go back to the time, re: his omission from the 2007 premiership side. I know at the time that I felt it was a harsh call, but definitely the right one. And I'm happy Kingy got a premiership, as well. Can only speak for myself though. Having said that, Blake was a great soldier for us, who always gave the GFC everything he had. A shame that he retires on 99, he made things a lot easier for our great midfield during his time.
 
Howisthat said:
I reckon many opposition rucks did not like playing against Blake as he makes a contest in the middle.
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That's all well and good but the nature of the game so heavily reliant on set plays and structures now means that it's not enough for ANY ruckman to be good at the centre bounce and not much else. Ruckmen now need to be able to pinch-hit forward, drop back to spoil a long kick at goal or take a mark, have good enough skills to make up a link in a chain of possession without messing it up and as Ottens has shown so often to have a genuine 2nd/3rd effort work ethic. I'm not going to say that Blake was a spud and deserved to be delisted, but at the same time it was pretty obvious that his career was going to suffer once the bench was reduced to 3. No team can afford to carry a one-positional player. Cam Wood may find himself in the same position this time next year, or Robert Warnock.
 
Ill remember him for 2009, held the line all season when Ottens was injured for 2-3 weeks then played an important role in a wet grand final where tap ruckman are worth there weight in gold. Lucky players can be gifted premiership medals he earned one in 2009.
 

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kriso182 said:
Will this be the same as St.Kilda when they said Steven Baker and Robert Eddy had "retired". Both players then came out and said they haven't retired.

Seems strange that Blake wouldn't have a crack at trying to get drafted.
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Balme said they were going to try and find him a new club and move him on for free, like Steven King to the saints for a high pick we didn't use, during trade week. Obviously there musn't have been any takers so Blake's only choice was to retire/be delisted.
 
Howisthat said:
I have only joined bigfooty recently after following it for a couple of years. Great to hear some encouraging comments on this thread however a lot of Geelong barrackers (not supporters) have shown how fickle they are. Sure, we have been winning the last 5-6 years but in that time many have still found time to rip into some players. Imagine what it was like for Blake to put up with the constant critics in the Advertiser and online, that the paper publishes some of the comments from supporters in its txt the editor is a contradiction when at years end they paint the paper blue and white and preach how much we love each player! I reckon many opposition rucks did not like playing against Blake as he makes a contest in the middle. He should have played in 07, sure King got some kicks but what AFL player wouldn't when your team is 15 goals up! I know the players are well renumerated but I reckon with the amount of scrutiny they come under the day will come when a player succumbs to the pressure and then its too late.
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Hi Mark! (waves)
 
Well folks firstly I had to disappear to the ladies room to shed a quiet tear and compose myself before venturing in here.

Mark Blake
You were so very great, almost like chips with flake. Mark Blake.

Your kindness to small woodland creatures might not have been noted. Yet you always showed up on election day and voted. Mark Blake.

I am bereft Mark Blake as I sit on this bench. For in my heart you are up there with David Mensch. Mark Blake

People used terms like witches hat, mannequin or spud. Nothing really rhymes here I just wanted to point that out. Mark Blake.

Sigh.....

Come on down Tom Gillies I need a new favourite.....
 

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Beth , you sound like an interesting girl..

Mark Blake had 99 games than I , so who dare critic him.

Unfortunately for him , he not only was found not up to standard for 2011 ,
(no crime there , 50 odd guys will go of list this year ) ...

he also seems to be a personality issues that mean he is presence is not key to the club & players continued happiness , again no crime as plenty of champs are off beat types that dont get along with others ...

but add the mess in that he was part of the great ruck saga over this great period ours and guys like King and Mumford left while he was at the club and we a left with a lot of miss info and skewed assessment.

At this time rather than be negative lets say, he played better than King in 2009 , he was a Premiership player. Good luck for the future.
 
couchy555 said:
Tried his best and will always have a premiership medal. All the best for his future.
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Bingo. Any negativity is far from warranted.

Thanks for playing a big part (88 games) in perhaps the greatest Geelong side of all time (2007-2011). All the best.
 

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