Remove this Banner Ad

Blake

  • Thread starter Thread starter thejester
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

thejester

thejester

Norm Smith Medallist
Veteran BigFooty Official Draft Tipping Competition Geelong Cats - Gryan Miers Player Sponsor 2018 Geelong Cats - Sam Simpson Player Sponsor 2017 Geelong Cats - Nakia Cockatoo Player Sponsor 2016 Geelong Cats - Nakia Cockatoo Player Sponsor 2015 Geelong Cats - Travis Varcoe 2014 Player Sponsor Podcaster
Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Posts
8,741
Reaction score
9,723
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Huey & Riley Freeman
In the excellent profile of Blake in the Hun today, Crackers came up with the following:

"I probably can't remember a player developing as quickly as Blake in the ruck. But a word of warning. He hasn't played anybody yet. Aaron Sandilands will tell us more."
Click to expand...

Well, the test is over. Pretty grim story statistically: Blake won 14 hitouts, Ottens 12, while Sandilands got 32 (!) and young Warnock 10. But we all know statistics can lie - so how do you rate Blake's performance? I wasn't paying that much attention to the ruck, but one passage of play caught my eye - Blake marks on half-forward, surrounded by players, and rather than simply dish off instantly plays on into the corridor and kicks it long. His confidence is growing in leaps and bounds, and it's this kind of attack on the ball - also displayed by Egan and Kelly in spades today, IMO - that has changed us from pretending to be pretendors to a real challenger.
 
thejester said:
In the excellent profile of Blake in the Hun today, Crackers came up with the following:



Well, the test is over. Pretty grim story statistically: Blake won 14 hitouts, Ottens 12, while Sandilands got 32 (!) and young Warnock 10. But we all know statistics can lie - so how do you rate Blake's performance? I wasn't paying that much attention to the ruck, but one passage of play caught my eye - Blake marks on half-forward, surrounded by players, and rather than simply dish off instantly plays on into the corridor and kicks it long. His confidence is growing in leaps and bounds, and it's this kind of attack on the ball - also displayed by Egan and Kelly in spades today, IMO - that has changed us from pretending to be pretendors to a real challenger.
Click to expand...


Sandilands is a monster of a man and Blake was beaten by him today. But when he used his body in the ruck he did win a few against sandilands. Blake was never going to beat him and I think he would have learnt alot from that contest. Blake has come a long way and he is definately now our No 2 Ruckman. Has lots of work to do yet. Needs to be able to kick goals and be able to put defensive pressure across the backline. But he is heading in the right direction IMO.
 
Watching todays game it looked like it was a strength issue more than height problem. That will improve obviously. Did some great work handballing in close. Seems to always choose the right option.

His kicking I don't think is that bad its just a confidence thing. I was happy with his game today but he was well beaten in the ruckwork by this years premere ruckmen.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Even though Blake didn't win the hitouts, whenever he got the ball in traffic his vision was phenomenal and always found someone to handball to in a tight situation to our advantage.
 
Definitely was a strength issue today. If Blake and Sandilands were wrestling, more than not, Sandilands won the contest. Did anyone else have their hearts in their throats when Sandilands or Warnock went forward? Blake spoiling is almost like him taking a contested mark!
 
Yeah I think if he remains injury free we will see Blakes best work in around 3 seasons time, right about when Tomohawk comes into his own!
 
He wasn't bad. Gets a rough deal from the umpires though.

I never understand ruck infrigements. I always go, 'oh Otto, why'd you give the freekick away' and then laugh when the umpire signals it's ours!
 
With King going down once more he has now become a very important player.He's improving every game and whilst Sandilands won the knockouts,they were mainly ineffectual ,he will have learnt a lot from that.We will need to recruit another Ruckman as a priority at years end.
 
CatmanForever said:
Sandilands is a monster of a man and Blake was beaten by him today. But when he used his body in the ruck he did win a few against sandilands. Blake was never going to beat him and I think he would have learnt alot from that contest. Blake has come a long way and he is definately now our No 2 Ruckman. Has lots of work to do yet. Needs to be able to kick goals and be able to put defensive pressure across the backline. But he is heading in the right direction IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree there CF, Blake did ok, but Sandilands is a monster and probably just had the better of him. However what I was suprised at was that both Ottens and Blake often bodied into Sandilands, and when that happened they won or at least negated his tap.

That was a real bonus, as Blake can see that he can match it with probably one of the best tap ruckmen in the league. I am starting to be impressed by Blake, he even baulked and went for a stroll at one stage, to follow that up with a nice spearing foot pass.

I think that he gets worried when he hears the crowd yelling kick it every time he gets the ball, he obviously is wondering about it as he continues to think that once King is fit he will be dropped.

It is a real positive that we have Blake learning so much, and that Ottens is really starting to produce in the number one ruck spot. I don't think we need Ottens as a permanent forward anymore, he is our number one ruck, leave him there.

Blake is great as a backup to Ottens. I'm looking forward to him continuing the growth in his game in the future. Big bonus for the Cats.
 
blake will be a class ruckmen let him develope you guys really !!!! its his first season of ten or more ......and he is holding and beating some quality men !!!!!!
 
dunno if this answers ya question......but (if he didnt injure himself) King would be S.T.Ruggel-ing for a long time to get a spot back....with blake and otto just getting the job done, and in the mannor its getting done, Kingy may have played his last match (or one of)
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Has any ruckman got more hitouts against Sandilands in a game? Blake's coming along nicely.
 
Herbs said:
Has any ruckman got more hitouts against Sandilands in a game? Blake's coming along nicely.
Click to expand...

You'd think not....seriously you'd be disappointed if he didn't win most hit-outs, having that height and weight advantage....just needs to turn up.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom