I'm calling it Dawson > Blake

[rizzo]

Early yes, but it is true. As many would know I have been a Blake supporter, I have also supported Dawson when people were calling him to be delisted last year.

Fantastic debut by a bloke who was thrown into the deep end.

His disposal is good, he is great around the ground, he doesn't look hurried, and he can push forward.

Blake has struggled at times with these and now he has another competitor going for his spot in the team.

Enjoy the next 12 months Blakey, this time next year Dawson will be breathing down your neck.

 

[TheMightyAchilles]

posting the above would have earnt me a perm ban

totally agree
need to get game time into the future, as blake is going nowhere
he blackmailed the club, and has not lived up to anything

just tap tap tap adds nothing

 

[alfy!]

Could be Mumford 2.0. Seems like everyone is saying his contested posessions and ground work was superb. Might have trouble keeping on to this guy.

 

[Claude Balls]

The bigger they are the longer they take to reach their optimum strenth, athleticism and coordination I reckon, and this guy is 206cm! Could be a very, very good ruckman in 2 years time.

 

[hamG]

Dawson seems to have a good base of fundamentals for a ruckman. I panicked in the first quarter when we handpassed to him twice in 5 seconds but perhaps that was deliberate by the players because they trust his hands.

 

[archilino]

agree 100%, doesnt mind gettin his hands dirty and the players had enough faith in him to pass him the ball. Never see that with Blake.

 

[Bobby Giovanni]

I'm calling it too... My 3yo nephew > Blake.

Totally sticking my neck out on that one.

 

[Turbocat]

I was impressed with his ability to get involved around the ground. Obviously raw but one suspect he will be more polished than Blake after 20-30 games. If he starts taking strong overheads marks , Blake will be in serious strife. I wonder if Ottens will be told his knee needs another two to three weeks , just for precaution.

 

[Greg Brady]

Walking a very fine line here Rizz, I was crucified for saying that Blake would be under pressure from the match committee being prepared to play Dawson.

FWIW, I completely agree, Blake is 5? years advanced and isnt half the player Dawson is around the ground, and thats saying something. We should have chosen King above Blake in 07 and i've always felt that. Hes a good tap ruckman, but horrible at EVERYTHING else.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Otto will be rested throughout the season and Dawson will get more game time. I had never seen Dawson play but so many people said he was rather hopeless. Glad that isn't the case. He will be a top ruckman in a few years.

 

[Vdubs]

Knew this would come up, but we never get to see the "best" of Blake against Sandilands. Yet thought Blake did more around the ground this week than the previous 2 weeks.

At the end of this season, I wonder how much more we get out of Ottens. If Mooney and Ottens are on the vway out, it could well be Simpson/Blake in the ruck, Ottens forward.

 

[TheMightyAchilles]

Knew this would come up, but we never get to see the "best" of Blake against Sandilands. Yet thought Blake did more around the ground this week than the previous 2 weeks.

At the end of this season, I wonder how much more we get out of Ottens. If Mooney and Ottens are on the vway out, it could well be Simpson/Blake in the ruck, Ottens forward.

they were unhappy at club level over blake's first 2 weeks
simpson showed him up today

it would be great to see otto and simpson next week

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

The one defining thing that I liked about his game was that he stood on the very last line, jumped for a freo shot on goal and turned a goal into a rushed behind. Blake just doesn't do that. (Not Blake bashing)

 

[rizzo]

Anyone who has been here longer then 12 months would know I have stuck up for Blake (and still rate him better then mummy). The same people will also know that I have always rated Dawson.

Now, IMHO Dawson was 12 months off pushing for a spot. But what he did today showed to me that the roof of his development is very very high. To come out and get 6 or 7 hit outs and have 11 touches with minimal game time against a bloke a good 20kg bigger then you is huge.

If Dawson can sneak 5 or 6 games this year, watch out next year.

 

[Inferno]

His disposal was iffy, but that's to be expected from a first game ruckman. Seems like he already has a better ability to get possetions then Blake, and provided a lot more since both were getting smashed by Sandilands unless a 3rd man went up.

 

[True Blue Cat]

So it's back from the Lonergan hate wagon to the Blake hate wagon?

 

[Inferno]

Who says we can be on both?

 

[Turbocat]

So it's back from the Lonergan hate wagon to the Blake hate wagon?

Speaking for myself , I don't hate the man but you would have to say his is hardly a shinning light in the side. Last year he was nearly replaced by blossoming Rookie. He finally got the his GF and this year he has come out and been what could only be regarded as poor. Today I saw more potential in Simpson than I did in Blake ,he is taller, has just as much mobility and possibly more skill. He has had long enough to show something other than being what he is , he can blame no one if he gets over run by a talented younger guy.

 

[Vdubs]

Let's watch this space. Plenty more games to make a proper comparison. We forget that Mummy lost his way last year. Just remember, Blake is resilient and will be there when it counts.

 

[YOTC]

Can we get a Mackie hate wagon?

What an overrated hack.

 

[PoidaCat]

Witches Hat > Blake

 

[catswhiskers]

Not only is Simpson 206cm but he has a serious leap on him. He will jump right over the Minsons and the Jamars and Renoufs in years to come. He is an exciting prospect. Looked right at home in the middle directing traffic too.

Having said that he needs a lot more careful development. He is 2 years away from permanent selection I reckon.

It will be Blake and Ottens should we make the finals. That is a very handy combo.

 

[Turbocat]

Let's watch this space. Plenty more games to make a proper comparison. We forget that Mummy lost his way last year. Just remember, Blake is resilient and will be there when it counts.

Good point. One thing we are not taking into account is who he was playing. Yes great effort of the Lurch but what will he be like up against a Kruser or a Brogan or a Clarke etc.

Say what you like , Blake has matched up against them all and all their styles and he has the ability to nullify most.Still , something tells me if we persist with big Daw we might be able to give other teams another worry , I doubt they ever worry about Blake

 

[CF]

Well I thought Blakey was Ok today. let's face it, none of you will ever like Blake regardless of what he does. Dawson had a crack and he did well for his debut. But Blake is still our no 2 ruckman by a long way yet. So get out the tissues and wipe up your premature interjections.

 

[Catman]

Can we get a Mackie hate wagon?

What an overrated hack.

His season has been pretty poor so far. He's not alone there as there are quite a few senior players struggling to certain degrees at the moment.