Roast Blake in Trouble

[Boxhead_31]

Loved the game of the Mummy today and also Tom and Harry playing in the ruck today gave us good flexability.
Think Blakey could really struggle to get back into team more so when Otto gets back into the mix

 

[Duskfire]

One thing that got me was how in the channel ten interview afterwards, Thompson didnt mention Blake. Talked about the possibility of going in with one ruckmen if Ottens didnt come up and how Taylor and Hawkins was just to mix it up a bit.

 

[Linx]

Gaaaaarrrrrwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

[Patronus]

He was named in the best in the VFL today.

I have no idea how he went. I am guessing some who saw it will come on and say he did nothing to deserve being named in the best.

 

[Barabbas]

One thing that got me was how in the channel ten interview afterwards, Thompson didnt mention Blake. Talked about the possibility of going in with one ruckmen if Ottens didnt come up and how Taylor and Hawkins was just to mix it up a bit.

That was really interesting, especially when he said they wanted to see if they could just choose players that were in good form, instead of two ruckmen. I think it worked today, be interesting to see it against a good ruck combo. It's a big shift for a coach that flirted with the thought of three ruckmen for a while.

 

[winty]

One thing that got me was how in the channel ten interview afterwards, Thompson didnt mention Blake. Talked about the possibility of going in with one ruckmen if Ottens didnt come up and how Taylor and Hawkins was just to mix it up a bit.

In the press conference on K-Rock, Bomber said the experiment wasn't something you'd only do for a week. Sounds like Blake will be kicking the dew off the ground for another week, and isn't Ottens meant to be back the week after?

 

[Patronus]

I don't think Ottens first game back would be in the AFL.

He did say a real two weeks away.

 

[djlowz]

He's been in trouble since day one. Poor bloke, just isn't good enough, i'm sure he tries. Hopefully this will see the start of a new combination of rucks that doesn't involve Blake.

Would he be worth anything at another club?

 

[winty]

I don't think Ottens first game back would be in the AFL.

He did say a real two weeks away.

Haven't they said Ottens will be coming straight back into the seniors?

 

[someday-somehow]

He's been in trouble since day one. Poor bloke, just isn't good enough, i'm sure he tries. Hopefully this will see the start of a new combination of rucks that doesn't involve Blake.

Would he be worth anything at another club?

We had our chance last year. We could've traded with StKilda and kept king. I reckon they would've parted with something decent for him too. Oh well....we've all got 20-20 hindsight.

 

[ninjacat]

I hope that Thompson and the selection committee are following the school of thinking that a ruckman has to be versatile and not just a great tap ruckman. I would much rather have Ottens and Mummy in the ruck, winning tapouts, going in hard for second efforts and taking some good grabs around the ground.

St Kilda are doing well forward, midfield and backline. They showed that you need an edge in the ruck stocks in order to go the whole way. We must be the same. A ruckman must now be an "everything" player in big shoes.

 

[watermelonslice]

Blake's really in trouble. It seems that if Ottens could come back, Mumford is going to be favoured as the 2nd ruckmen based on current form. And if Ottens couldn't make it back, Bomber looks like he may be sticking to the one ruckmen format. It worked really well for them today imo. Great change up for Hawkins and Taylor, who can both be useful on the ground too.

 

[randyzany]

I hate to brag but I told you so. Never once looked like he would make it as a competent ruckman to me. He might have made it in the 70s and 80s, his awkwardness, slo motion movement, general lack of physical presence and pressure would have been overlooked in those amateur days. Unfortunately for him he does not have the physical prowess to compete in modern day football, his output is simply not good enough for a professional at the highest level. Good luck next year to Blakey to whichever amateur comp he ends up in, he gave it his best go but at the end of the day wasn't up to it. Like many of us who put emotion to one side and assess players ability and talent impartially and able to see the writing on the wall from very early on, we have been finally vindicated.

 

[JUBJUB]

Haven't they said Ottens will be coming straight back into the seniors?

That was when he due back a month ago.A few weeks ago Bomber said maybe a comeback via the VFL.

 

[djlowz]

I hate to brag but I told you so. Never once looked like he would make it as a competent ruckman to me. He might have made it in the 70s and 80s, his awkwardness, slo motion movement, general lack of physical presence and pressure would have been overlooked in those amateur days. Unfortunately for him he does not have the physical prowess to compete in modern day football, his output is simply not good enough for a professional at the highest level. Good luck next year to Blakey to whichever amateur comp he ends up in, he gave it his best go but at the end of the day wasn't up to it. Like many of us who put emotion to one side and assess players ability and talent impartially and able to see the writing on the wall from very early on, we have been finally vindicated.

You said it buddy, I've had the same point of view since day 1.

 

[DanA]

I hate to brag but I told you so. Never once looked like he would make it as a competent ruckman to me. He might have made it in the 70s and 80s, his awkwardness, slo motion movement, general lack of physical presence and pressure would have been overlooked in those amateur days. Unfortunately for him he does not have the physical prowess to compete in modern day football, his output is simply not good enough for a professional at the highest level. Good luck next year to Blakey to whichever amateur comp he ends up in, he gave it his best go but at the end of the day wasn't up to it. Like many of us who put emotion to one side and assess players ability and talent impartially and able to see the writing on the wall from very early on, we have been finally vindicated.

At what point do you make it? He's pretty much been a permanent fixture in the team for the last 3 years!

You sound like a tool when you dance on a players career proclaiming "I told you so".

 

[comrade]

I'd be giving Port Power a call and asking for Peter Rhode.

We all know he's happy to cough up a ridiculously high draft pick for a Geelong ruckman on the cusp of delisting.

 

[goodoldcats]

At what point do you make it? He's pretty much been a permanent fixture in the team for the last 3 years!

You sound like a tool when you dance on a players career proclaiming "I told you so".

The point was blake was always a crap footballer

 

[Vdubs]

A lot of us older supporters remember fondly his dad Rod, who was tall, gangly, awkward and only there as backup. Then at age 27 he got really fit and became the best ruck in 1980, 2nd or 3rd in the Brownlow, and dominated the competition for 2-3 years. Mark looks very similar, and looks as if he lacks confidence, and even I'll admit, he has not progressed this year. I'm hoping he can turn it around and gain some fitness and speed. Last year against Ess, he dominated Hille, and was very influential around the ground, may have got a vote, the point being he showed something. If this is the last year we have Blake, I personally admit disappointment. Watching the Hawks clean up the Pies at the moment in the 3rd/4, we may need some backup in the ruck next week.

 

[Vdubs]

Saw the 2's game and apart from some pox kicking,Blakey did play a better game and took marks around the ground. West looked as he was CHB, and not great. Dawson Simpson did some good things in the last/4, very quiet 3rd/4

 

[Brasil2007]

A lot of us older supporters remember fondly his dad Rod, who was tall, gangly, awkward and only there as backup. Then at age 27 he got really fit and became the best ruck in 1980, 2nd or 3rd in the Brownlow, and dominated the competition for 2-3 years. Mark looks very similar, and looks as if he lacks confidence, and even I'll admit, he has not progressed this year. I'm hoping he can turn it around and gain some fitness and speed. Last year against Ess, he dominated Hille, and was very influential around the ground, may have got a vote, the point being he showed something. If this is the last year we have Blake, I personally admit disappointment. Watching the Hawks clean up the Pies at the moment in the 3rd/4, we may need some backup in the ruck next week.

Hmmn that'd mean keeping Blakey around for a few more years! I tend to agree though that Blake hasn't progressed and frankly isn't going to progress. So the question is can we win enough ball in the middle and at stoppages without a tap ruckman? Really we don't know but next week will be an interesting test.

 

[Duskfire]

The point was blake was always a crap footballer

Still not cool to do so. Your like one of those people who giggle when an opposition player gets injured (unless its Hawthorn, its alright to giggle then.)

 

[Brasil2007]

Still not cool to do so. Your like one of those people who giggle when an opposition player gets injured (unless its Hawthorn, its alright to giggle then.)

I tend to agree with that. No matter what any of us think of Blake as a footballer, he's been good enough so far to play 77 games in a very good team, as well as get a spot in a gf. Not sure about anyone else here but personally I'd give my right arm to be given the opportunity to play five minutes in the hoops. Hell I'd just about give my right arm to carry the drinks on to the ground at quarter time!

 

[krisholio14]

A lot of us older supporters remember fondly his dad Rod, who was tall, gangly, awkward and only there as backup. Then at age 27 he got really fit and became the best ruck in 1980, 2nd or 3rd in the Brownlow, and dominated the competition for 2-3 years. Mark looks very similar, and looks as if he lacks confidence, and even I'll admit, he has not progressed this year. I'm hoping he can turn it around and gain some fitness and speed. Last year against Ess, he dominated Hille, and was very influential around the ground, may have got a vote, the point being he showed something. If this is the last year we have Blake, I personally admit disappointment. Watching the Hawks clean up the Pies at the moment in the 3rd/4, we may need some backup in the ruck next week.

I've been saying this since we drafted him.

Some folk in here might be happy to write him off, but he went back to the VFL today and played well. That's a positive sign in my books, and i'm still confident he will bounce back a better player.

 

[randyzany]

At what point do you make it? He's pretty much been a permanent fixture in the team for the last 3 years!

I'm not dancing on anyone's grave but merely stating a fact. I get no satisfaction from seeing a player who dons the club's colours fail but persisting with someone who has shown little upside in his position for the best part of 3 years for no apparent good reason is sheer lunacy as far as I’m concerned.

Unless you're related to him or something and have a personal interest in seeing him succeed then I honestly can't understand where some of his supporters are coming from. My main concern is how the club performs not individual players like Mark Blake. If that makes me a tool than so be it. He doesn't cut it at this level which has been obvious to a lot of Geelong supporters for quite a while and it's time now to cut our losses and move on.

Still not cool to do so. Your like one of those people who giggle when an opposition player gets injured (unless its Hawthorn, its alright to giggle then.)

They're nothing alike. I'm not breaking out the champagne in celebration just relieved that opposition teams are no longer gonna regularly get a free ride by playing through one of our rucks. Perhaps some other AFL club could give him a second chance, I genuinely wish him all the best in his future endeavours.