Player Watch #22 Nick Blakey: The Lizard

[Kennedy Parker]

Nick Blakey
Nick Blakey

22

Nick Blakey

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.9

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.4

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

7.2

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.2

3star

is a prodigious talent with a laser-sharp left boot, an outstanding overhead ability and searing pace. The QBE Sydney Swans Academy product booted 21 goals in 19 games in a brilliant debut season en route to winning the club’s 2019 Rising Star award, and while he added a lively element to the forward line last year, he’s likely to play on a wing or in the midfield in 2020. Nick is the son of former Fitzroy and North Melbourne champion John Blakey, who’s had a variety of roles on the Swans’ coaching panel since 2006.

Nick Blakey

22

Nick Blakey

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.9

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.4

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

189.1

3star

D

7.2

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.2

2star

T

1.2

3star

DOB: 27 February 2000
DEBUT: 2019
DRAFT: #10, 2018 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: University Of NSW-Eastern Suburbs (NSW)

Nick Blakey | AFL

Follow Nick Blakey's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Positionally he reflects the overall broken nature of our entire structure right now.

Such a waste playing him as last man. Sure, gobbled up a few intercepts but he's never going to impact offensively from so far back. That run through the guts was born out of frustration as much as anything else.

 

[MF]

That spoil he made in the last quarter was one of the best I've ever seen. He was 2 on 1, completely alone in our forward 50 and it was a certain bombers goal if he didn't make it. He had absolutely no right making that sort of ground from where he started.

The frustration and disbelief from the bombers supporters around me when it went through for a point was palpable.

 

[The King!]

That spoil he made in the last quarter was one of the best I've ever seen. He was 2 on 1, completely alone in our forward 50 and it was a certain bombers goal if he didn't make it. He had absolutely no right making that sort of ground from where he started.

The frustration from the bombers supporters around me when it went through for a point was palpable.

It's the part that's been missing this year , the mark that went through his hands was shit but that aside he was good.

I just think he is so deep back and even back to key defender is systematic of a side defending a game not trying to win.

If he went to the midfield there wasn't one Essendon player who could match him imo

 

[MF]

It's the part that's been missing this year , the mark that went through his hands was shit but that aside he was good.

I just think he is so deep back and even back to key defender is systematic of a side defending a game not trying to win.

If he went to the midfield there wasn't one Essendon player who could match him imo

I honestly don't know if we'd see his best from a wing or forward of the ball but we definitely haven't been seeing his best from defence this year either so who knows.

I'd definitely like to see him shifted when our system isn't working.

 

[The King!]

I honestly don't know if we'd see his best from a wing or forward of the ball but we definitely haven't been seeing his best from defence this year either so who knows.

I'd definitely like to see him shifted when our system isn't working.

Yeah maybe he goes up the ground and makes me look stupid, I know he struggled early days and that's why he went to half back.

But his most dangerous footy was late when he went forward and then he sneaks up the ground. Last year we didn't allow him to get dragged deep as much either.

At 3-6 it just seems worth a shot , I mean it's not as stupid as Mccartin forward imo.

 

[kickthething]

It's the part that's been missing this year , the mark that went through his hands was shit but that aside he was good.

I just think he is so deep back and even back to key defender is systematic of a side defending a game not trying to win.

If he went to the midfield there wasn't one Essendon player who could match him imo

He is a HBF and should be played there. He can impact as he needs, the accountability he has now is stifling him.

 

[The King!]

He is a HBF and should be played there. He can impact as he needs, the accountability he has now is stifling him.

Teams drag him back, so we need to unlock him, we even lean into it and make him play 3rd key tall

 

[The King!]

Jesus Christ he has become a soft sook

 

[The King!]

Look how dangerous he is in the middle cox, wake up

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Look how dangerous he is in the middle cox, wake up

He really sparked our run in the 4th

 

[The King!]

He really sparked our run in the 4th

He did, because he got of the backline

He doesn’t defend, so stop putting him there deep

 

[BarneyBent]

He did, because he got of the backline

He doesn’t defend, so stop putting him there deep

Agree, though he doesn't necessarily need to leave the backline - we just need to stop thinking that because he's 194cm he can play as a key defender. His height and ability to pinch-hit as a tall back is a bonus - if our structure breaks down and he needs to cover a tall temporarily, that's a useful string to his bow. But it can't be main job, because we lose his best attributes in exchange for a thoroughly mediocre key defender.

The fact Hamling stayed forward after Francis went off, while Blakey played key defence, is one of the most boneheaded tactical decisions I have ever seen. Hell, starting Francis back and Hamling forward was bad to begin with, but sacrificing Blakey to keep Hamling forward is just... yeah.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

He looked absolutely awful probably the worst 3 quarters of his career then a very good 4th.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Agree, though he doesn't necessarily need to leave the backline - we just need to stop thinking that because he's 194cm he can play as a key defender. His height and ability to pinch-hit as a tall back is a bonus - if our structure breaks down and he needs to cover a tall temporarily, that's a useful string to his bow. But it can't be main job, because we lose his best attributes in exchange for a thoroughly mediocre key defender.

The fact Hamling stayed forward after Francis went off, while Blakey played key defence, is one of the most boneheaded tactical decisions I have ever seen. Hell, starting Francis back and Hamling forward was bad to begin with, but sacrificing Blakey to keep Hamling forward is just... yeah.

Hamling greatly reduced Weitering's effectiveness. Doubt Francis could have achieved that. Whether it's a worthwhile tactic is a fair discussion.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Hamling greatly reduced Weitering's effectiveness. Doubt Francis could have achieved that. Whether it's a worthwhile tactic is a fair discussion.

Yep worth it for the elite defenders wasted on anybody else

 

[Callipygian]

He really sparked our run in the 4th

Those two kicks in the chains that led to consecutive goals to Grundy and Amartey at the beginning of the 4th were

 

[The King!]

Most overrated player in the league right now not even close

 

[The King!]

must be some ****en good training to get a contract extension

Always treated him like a special player !!

 

[wills2g]

Why did Cox move him forward to see what he can do up the ground and then never use it again???

He was literally tagged the entire game and our forward line is shit, he can at least take a mark and originally started out as a forward and can find the goals

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Most overrated player in the league right now not even close

I know plenty here despise David King - but he’s adamant that Blakey is being used poorly.

He might be right. Someone like Blakey doesn’t become a dud overnight.

 

[Jack2Jack]

There's a lot to be frustrated over at the club right now, this guy is right up there though.
Had a great first half a season last year then was lucky to be AA in the end because he dropped off bigtime mid year.
He almost epitomises us as a club, got contend with being June premiers then stopped giving second efforts, then I'll never forget him just stopping expecting a free early in the Gf last year letting them kick an easy goal when we had actually started ok. Now he stops all the the time, not only that he must slip/fall over more than any other player in the league.

Is he actually going to come good again? He's only bloody 25, wtf is going on with him should ne in his prime with plenty of footy left. It's a long stretch of shit football he's played, A graders play a bad month or two here and there, not often a seasons worth and counting.

 

[Superstar swan]

Blakey should be a weapon wherever he is on the field , not sure why cox is so hesitant to move him.

Play him guts , play him at chf

Just do something dean

 

[Swans22]

To me it appears that Cox has asked him to tighten up his defensive aspects and doesnt have the licence to take the game on, run off at any costs like he had any previous years. To me asking him to play a lock down role is not a good utilisation of him, play him on a mid or small, with a focus on intercept marks and run off half back. I feel his poor utilisation has sapped his effectivensss and now his confidencce is shot,..

 

[Swans22]

Blakey should be a weapon wherever he is on the field , not sure why cox is so hesitant to move him.

Play him guts , play him at chf

Just do something dean

If he is not generaating run off half back, i agree iit would be worth trying something. Given our forwards stocks at the moment I'd chuck him at a half forward. At least he can get to contests unless all oour other key forwards who have no mobility.

 

[Superstar swan]

No reason he couldn’t play a similar role to Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

Push up the ground then double back