Blake's stats

[cats2rise]

Fair point, but the way I see it, Blake has been poor at stuff like tackles etc, not just this year, but his whole career, so if that's the reason for his being dropped then it's very strange he's never been dropped before. Sure we wouldn't have done it while Otto was out, but I would have thought we would have done it last year, or at the start of this year, if that was the reason.

He was dropped in 07 for King when it mattered.
He wasn't dropped in 08 due to us not having many other choices. King gone - who else could have rucked for us apart from Ottens at that stage?
He was dropped for a fair part of 2009 for Mumford.
He has been dropped again, and it sounds like it may be for awhile.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

He was dropped in 07 for King when it mattered.
He wasn't dropped in 08 due to us not having many other choices. King gone - who else could have rucked for us apart from Ottens at that stage?
He was dropped for a fair part of 2009 for Mumford.
He has been dropped again, and it sounds like it may be for awhile.

Fair point, I suppose I've always seen it as he was dropped in 07 because King was the better choice for the day, not because he was not meeting the coaches expectations etc. At least it was never said publicly that that was the case.

If they've been worried about (whatever it is he's not doing up to standard now) since then and it's not getting better, then that doesn't bode well for Blakey's future at the club IMO.

 

[PoidaCat]

That is a crap comment, and your opinion, though obviously not unique around here.

Translated = I can't handle opinions other than my own.

 

[Vdubs]

Translated = I can't handle opinions other than my own.

Or, I don't believe in calling premiership players who have been good servants, albeit not up to the rest of the team's standard, SHIT, while you do!

 

[darren forssman]

Overall, no. Blake is very good at link play and better at setting up our clearances, not a good contested mark,and an average kick at goal.

he is far removed from being very good at link play....his team mates even ignore him when is open such is the faith they have in his ability.

 

[cynical]

blake is a tap ruckman and that is all he will ever be

the fact that we got pods in our lineup now means we have an extra big man

none of the top sides have an elite no2 ruckman so hawkins wont get exploited too much, the fact that he can take big grabs and kicks goals means he should be in the side

if we end up playing the saints in a final i'd definately want another big marking option to combat the super flood

 

[_Me_]

Or, I don't believe in calling premiership players who have been good servants, albeit not up to the rest of the team's standard, SHIT, while you do!

 

[cats2rise]

Fair point, I suppose I've always seen it as he was dropped in 07 because King was the better choice for the day, not because he was not meeting the coaches expectations etc. At least it was never said publicly that that was the case.

Sorry I didnt mean he was dropped in 07 because of that. I too thought it was because King was the better choice on the day. I think the club has shown alot of faith in Blake - maybe because of his fathers connection to the club, or because they felt they owed him for dropping him on the eve of the 2007 Grand Final?

I think they do realise his (lack of) effort at times, but we've never been able to replace him. We could when it mattered with King, we had no other options in 2008, and they hoped the extended lay off in 2009 for Mumford would have seen some change. Maybe he just can't add that too his game. I don't doubt his ruckwork at all as it improves every season, but in this day and age pure ruck work doesnt cut it anymore unless they are a level above everyone else, and Blake isnt at that level.

 

[Vdubs]

Very well put

 

[_Me_]

Very well put

It was more eloquent than your pro Blake rant. Obviously the coaches see his worth differently to you. Further Mumford has clearly illustrated real growth, and Blake has not. He can tap, whoopeeeeeeeeeee. Until he adds value, what is his real worth. (and simply tap tap tapping is not adding value)

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Sorry I didnt mean he was dropped in 07 because of that. I too thought it was because King was the better choice on the day. I think the club has shown alot of faith in Blake - maybe because of his fathers connection to the club, or because they felt they owed him for dropping him on the eve of the 2007 Grand Final?

I think they do realise his (lack of) effort at times, but we've never been able to replace him. We could when it mattered with King, we had no other options in 2008, and they hoped the extended lay off in 2009 for Mumford would have seen some change. Maybe he just can't add that too his game. I don't doubt his ruckwork at all as it improves every season, but in this day and age pure ruck work doesnt cut it anymore unless they are a level above everyone else, and Blake isnt at that level.

Maybe I don't know. But I do find it strange, as others have said, that Bomber was praising Blake a few weeks ago, and now it seems to have 360d the other way. Short of Bomber finding out Blake signed with another club and cracking it, I can't think what would explain it, because like I said, his 'defiencies' are hardly new or have hardly got worse this year than they were before.

I'm not saying it's the wrong decision, the coaches are in a much better place than us to know, so I'll back them in, and ultimately the 2010 GF will show whether it was the right decision or not. I just worry about what it will do for the working relationship between all, particularly given we'll need him to be at the club next year.

 

[mac_cat]

Here's what VFL coach Dale Amos had to say about Blake getting back into the seniors, after this week's game
(from article in the Addy).

"I wouldn't have imagined it was necessarily a one-week thing, it would depend on what (the coaches') thinking is and what he's got to work on," Amos said.

"I think it's about joining in all parts of the game.

"The game has passed by ruckman who are just good in the ruck, you have to be able to contribute around the ground, so I think that's probably Blakey's biggest thing he needs to work on, both offensively and defensively.

"He needs to be really involved in the game and he did it reasonably well at VFL level, but there's still some things he needs to continue to work on."


To me, this does sound like they've been asking Blake to work on his deficiencies for a while now, with not enough improvement to satisfy them.

 

[Nasma]

and now it seems to have 360d the other way.

180d I think

 

[CF]

To me, this does sound like they've been asking Blake to work on his deficiencies for a while now, with not enough improvement to satisfy them.

I think it is more a case of they persevered with Blake because our options were limited due to injuries or poor form of other players. But now with Ottens & Hawkins back from injury and West showing he is a decent player, Blake has dropped out of our best 22 due to the deficiencies in his game.

The only way I can see them putting him back in is if one of other Ruck options re-injure themselves.

 

[randyzany]

Here's what VFL coach Dale Amos had to say about Blake getting back into the seniors, after this week's game
(from article in the Addy).

"I wouldn't have imagined it was necessarily a one-week thing, it would depend on what (the coaches') thinking is and what he's got to work on," Amos said.

"I think it's about joining in all parts of the game.

"The game has passed by ruckman who are just good in the ruck, you have to be able to contribute around the ground, so I think that's probably Blakey's biggest thing he needs to work on, both offensively and defensively.

"He needs to be really involved in the game and he did it reasonably well at VFL level, but there's still some things he needs to continue to work on."


To me, this does sound like they've been asking Blake to work on his deficiencies for a while now, with not enough improvement to satisfy them.

"The game has passed by ruckman who are just good in the ruck, you have to be able to contribute around the ground, so I think that's probably Blakey's biggest thing he needs to work on, both offensively and defensively.

Isn’t this what the Blake “haters” (doubters is the term I prefer) have been saying to the ever optimistic Blake fanboys??????

As good as Bomba has been in managing players and getting the best out of them, his generous nature in showing too much faith and patience in players of questionable playing ability (putting it as politely as possible) is one of my few quibbles about his coaching.

 

[Gladbaqs]

Most riders in the Tour de France perform as pawns for the greater cause. Imagine a professional career of virtual anonymity to help a rider like Contador to fame and glory.

Hypothetically, taking out all the glory of individual achievement, and pretending that Premiership medallions are meaningless, and that the Premiership Cup means everything, you could mount a good argument that Blake is the perfect home and away ruckman.

He's uncommonly durable and causes minimal salary cap pressure. Imagine a universe where Blake was okay with that concept - he'd be the most loved bloke on Geelong's list.

I know that scenario doesn't reflect reality - but it is interesting that the medallion has been built up to be as important as the Cup. The fact that Stokes in 2009, Blake and Egan in 2007 (to name just a few examples) were not eligible for any official AFL acknowledgement is almost one of the most hurtful things in footy.

 

[Casey Cat]

I find the following curious:

Blake's case was not helped by the performance of his replacement, Trent West, who appeared to do enough to keep his spot for Saturday night's blockbuster against Collingwood.
With the exception of a dropped mark in the middle of the ground and a last quarter brain fade that gifted a goal to Brett Kirk, West was serviceable as a second option in the ruck.
He gathered nine possessions and had 13 hit outs in his role as backup for No.1 big man Brad Ottens.

I've bolded and italicized the really important bit: Just how is this any better than Blake?

I'm also curious to how Thompson could reportedly be pleased with his ruckmen. Mumford beat them all. It would have been interesting to see how the Swans would have gone if they could have converted their on-ball dominance with better kicking.

Anyway, Blake has shown he can win the ball this year and he needs to get back to that. Even if he just gets to the bottom of the packs first it will go a long way to restoring Thompson's faith in Blake. Maybe

Source: Geelong Advertiser

 

[Archangel]

I was speaking to a guy last week about how I thought Blake was a solid tap-ruckman but didn't do much else and he said to me; "Tap-ruckman is a term that should only be associated with players who tap it to the advantage of their team. How often does Blake actually tap it to the advantage of Geelong's midfield? Not much I thought, so what's the good of wasting a spot on him?"

I had no comeback

 

[Casey Cat]

I was speaking to a guy last week about how I thought Blake was a solid tap-ruckman but didn't do much else and he said to me; "Tap-ruckman is a term that should only be associated with players who tap it to the advantage of their team. How often does Blake actually tap it to the advantage of Geelong's midfield? Not much I thought, so what's the good of wasting a spot on him?"

I had no comeback

Then you need to watch more games. Blake is very good at tapping the ball to the team's advantage and the on-ball unit at Geelong (Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Ling, Selwood etc) know it. He makes things a lot easier for them.

Case in point: How many tackles or possession would one of these be worth?

[YOUTUBE]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l-hteyK3LY4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l-hteyK3LY4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Casey Cat]

And again:

[YOUTUBE]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8zk_HvzVero&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8zk_HvzVero&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Junk Time]

Any ruckman in the comp has similar highlights

I think all that does is show me how good Gaz is

 

[catempire]

You can say what you want about Blake, but he is a very good tap ruckman. I have heard Geelong midfielders comment publicly on how good they find his ruckwork.

 

[Junk Time]

You can say what you want about Blake, but he is a very good tap ruckman. I have heard Geelong midfielders comment publicly on how good they find his ruckwork.

Link?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Here's what VFL coach Dale Amos had to say about Blake getting back into the seniors, after this week's game
(from article in the Addy).

"I wouldn't have imagined it was necessarily a one-week thing, it would depend on what (the coaches') thinking is and what he's got to work on," Amos said.

"I think it's about joining in all parts of the game.

"The game has passed by ruckman who are just good in the ruck, you have to be able to contribute around the ground, so I think that's probably Blakey's biggest thing he needs to work on, both offensively and defensively.

"He needs to be really involved in the game and he did it reasonably well at VFL level, but there's still some things he needs to continue to work on."

To me, this does sound like they've been asking Blake to work on his deficiencies for a while now, with not enough improvement to satisfy them.

In some ways fairly obvious comments about what we all know are Blake's deficiencies, but they're significant.

First of all it means Blake can't come back soon, because he can't fix these things in a week, so if they brought him back straight away they'd be effectively painting themselves as hypocrites. So given the small number of weeks left, I can't really see Blake getting back (without injuries to others).

Secondly I wonder, as I said, what's changed to get him dropped, because he's had these deficiencies for a long time....maybe they just got so frustrated they eventually said 'enough', but the timing is still confusing to me.

Hopefully Blake can work on things. I'm just a little pessimistic because if his future at the club depends on him reinventing himself, it's going to be hard. Sure, some things like blocks and shepherds and defensive workrate he can improve because that's largely an attitude thing, but things like becoming more athletic, or technically better in contested marking situations in defensive 50, are a big ask, because he's not that sort of ruckman. Time will tell I suppose.

 

[Archangel]

Then you need to watch more games. Blake is very good at tapping the ball to the team's advantage and the on-ball unit at Geelong (Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Ling, Selwood etc) know it. He makes things a lot easier for them.

I watch EVERY game; I think our midfield makes Blake's tap-work look better then it is