Jason Blake

[mark73]

I was just watching a clip of when Jason Blake was drafted and you often forget how long this guy has been around. For a player who is often ostracised, he must be doing something right. I was just looking at getting St.Kilda supporters views of him, because he often seems to be criticised, but he must be able to play.

 

[goodie23]

Very handy player. He's a jack-of-many-trades, master of none, arguably closest thing to a true utility in the game today. He concedes free kicks and isn't the greatest user of the ball, but that could be because he so often fights out of his weight division. I still have fond memories of him towelling up Aaron Sandilands in Tassie, 189cm vs 211 and Blake just used him as a stepladder all day.

He is ridiculously underrated, has a great leap on him and can run all day.

 

[mark73]

Very handy player. He's a jack-of-many-trades, master of none, arguably closest thing to a true utility in the game today. He concedes free kicks and isn't the greatest user of the ball, but that could be because he so often fights out of his weight division. I still have fond memories of him towelling up Aaron Sandilands in Tassie, 189cm vs 211 and Blake just used him as a stepladder all day.

He is ridiculously underrated, has a great leap on him and can run all day.

He's not a world beater, but he's better than he's given credit for. Which is basically what you said.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I was just watching a clip of when Jason Blake was drafted and you often forget how long this guy has been around. For a player who is often ostracised, he must be doing something right. I was just looking at getting St.Kilda supporters views of him, because he often seems to be criticised, but he must be able to play.

He was critisized an awful lot earlier on I think. I seem to remember him playing various roles including forward and all round utility.
Right from the start he was recognised as having a massive tank and trying hard. What more could a coach ask I guess.
He's too slow to be a mid, cant kick well enough to be a forward, too short to be a ruck, and not accountable enough to be a great defender.
No real X factor except in the ruck where he's pretty amazing for his height, and more mobile than most other rucks.
His defense work got better in time, and with players like Penny retiring due to injury and others not working out he pretty much cemented himself in the backline by the Ross Lyon era.

He's a smart guy as well, Civil Engineering and Managment degree's obtained "during" an AFL career are not to be sneezed at.
( An Engineering degree is normally 4 years full time ).

I guess the main problem with Blake was that he wasn't good enough at any one role to be a specialist.
In a state level comp he'd have dominated I think.

 

[Squizz]

200+ games in a team which has regularly played finals speaks volumes.

11th in 2012 B&F despite only playing 13 games. Top 10 four years in a row (2007-2010, including the two GF years).

 

[Persevering Saint]

What's his record for consecutive games played? 71! That's pretty impressive as well.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

That game against Hawthorn in 2008 as well. Gotta be one of the greatest quarters performed by a player in our history! Into the ruck, kicks 3 goals and turns a 6 goal deficit into a lead and eventual 5 goal win.

Also featured a great run down from CJ.

That was a really great game wasn't it...

 

[Saint_Dos]

The years under the "ruckman are overrated" regime of grant thomas probably didnt help him too much.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

The years under the "ruckman are overrated" regime of grant thomas probably didnt help him too much.

Didn't totally disagree with "ruckmen are overrated", however the ruckmen appointed by Thommo were certainly overrated ( with the exception of Rix who wasn't meant to get a game ). Ackland anyone?
Thommo may have been ahead of his time, seeking out players who could pinch hit in the ruck ( Kosi, Brooks, Blake ), but hell we could have used one decent ruck in the squad, and there were still four spots on the bench in those days.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

Funnily enough, I watched the first three quarters of the 2009 Grand Final again on the weekend (I know I shouldn't have, but am a glutton for punishment). I must admit, seeing Blake play an important role down back in a team playing so well in the big one made me realise how much the bloke is underrated by pretty much everyone.

In my opinion, he has been underrated from the very start of his career. I have always thought he adds value to the team wherever and whenever he plays. The word reliable was invented for him. You always know what you are gonna get from him and I feel that this causes many people to either take him for granted or underrate him.

 

[mysainters]

I remember in 2009 when Saints fans gathered for the GF training session....

All the players came out in drips and drabs to cheers from the fans.

Blakey walked out on his own and received a massive cheer. He looked back to see who had come down the race behind him, saw nobody, blushed...and scurried past.

Love the (consistent, modest and humble) Blake.

 

[McCrann]

Yep, great bloke. I have been critical of him in the past (A brain fade against Geelong in Round 1, 2011 did cost us that game, and got us off on the wrong foot for the first few months in 2011), but you can't help but admire the bloke for 110% dedication to the cause. Here's hoping he gets another year and gets to 250 games.

The video is here. Its a great video.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-02-27/the-call-that-saved-a-career

 

[McCrann]

No doubt - Jason is a great bloke. I have been critical of him in the past (A brain fade against Geelong in Round 1, 2011 did cost us that game, and got us off on the wrong foot for the first few months in 2011), but you can't help but admire the bloke for 110% dedication to the cause. Here's hoping he gets another year and gets to 250 games.

The video is here. Its a great video.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-02-27/the-call-that-saved-a-career

 

[hayes]

It was posted this time last year mate, but can't hurt to watch it again.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

He's a unique player, Blake. Started his career at half back with modest results and then became a ruckman despite giving away 20cm on most of his opponents. Never was dominant but he gave a bit around the ground - obviously Thommo preferred 15 hitouts and 15 touches to 30 hitouts and 5 touches. Blake and Thommo were often criticised and many heaped praise on Lyon for finally recruiting speciallst rucks (Clarke, King, Gardiner) yet in the 2009 grand final we were back to the good ol' Blake and Kosi ruck combo - hell, even last year they were the ruck duo at times. Not to mention today's practice match!

But Blake's best footy was most definitely primarily as a defender from 2007-2010 when he was a genuinely good CHB in one of the best defensive units in history. He was never much chop as a key back early in his career, but he just worked hard, built his strength and learnt the defensive game. He was always prone to the occasional fumble and he still gives away a few free kicks, but no defender giving away considerable size doesn't.

He could have been delisted many times throughout his career (and was once), but he's lasted so long because he was willing to work hard to play a role for the team. He's not best 22 anymore, but we know that if we get injuries in defence then we have a reliable option to hold the fort for as long as needed. And if we need ruck support then he can provide a contest and contribute around the ground.

 

[Defacto]

quietly consistent in any role and very much under rated outside of st kilda

 

[goodie23]

Expansion teams missed a huge opportunity when we delisted him, they could've courted him, thrown a decent contract plus possibly a coaching gig at him if he's so inclined and landed themselves a very handy senior player. He may not have taken the offer, but if they didn't at least sound him out they're fools.

 

[mark73]

quietly consistent in any role and very much under rated outside of st kilda

Not by me, and thanks guys for all the contributions to the thread.

 

[stkildathunda]

Expansion teams missed a huge opportunity when we delisted him, they could've courted him, thrown a decent contract plus possibly a coaching gig at him if he's so inclined and landed themselves a very handy senior player. He may not have taken the offer, but if they didn't at least sound him out they're fools.

I'd be pretty confident they would hve asked the question but Blake prett see he was on record as saying if he didn't play for Saints he'd retire. Might not be an official role but he has bit of coaching role at Sandy.

 

[Persevering Saint]

The two players of our last decade that I think will make fantastic coaches are Luke Ball, and Jason Blake. I don't think Blake has the temperament to be a head coach (he's far too nice), but he's got the wisdom to be an awesome assistant. Luke is incredibly smart, and has that great balance of toughness and wisdom - I'd like to think that now the dust has settled, and we understand a few of the reasons he left, we might see him come back after he retires.

 

[mark73]

He was critisized an awful lot earlier on I think. I seem to remember him playing various roles including forward and all round utility.
Right from the start he was recognised as having a massive tank and trying hard. What more could a coach ask I guess.
He's too slow to be a mid, cant kick well enough to be a forward, too short to be a ruck, and not accountable enough to be a great defender.
No real X factor except in the ruck where he's pretty amazing for his height, and more mobile than most other rucks.
His defense work got better in time, and with players like Penny retiring due to injury and others not working out he pretty much cemented himself in the backline by the Ross Lyon era.

He's a smart guy as well, Civil Engineering and Managment degree's obtained "during" an AFL career are not to be sneezed at.
( An Engineering degree is normally 4 years full time ).

I guess the main problem with Blake was that he wasn't good enough at any one role to be a specialist.
In a state level comp he'd have dominated I think.

Kind of a slightly better version of Shannon Watt. And more adaptable. Watt was a good player when he got to North. but he grew very quickly and dominated for the Ballarat Rebels as a 193cm ruckman, but never got any taller. So he was forced to play in positions that were foreign to him. He still had his good days, especially against Matthew Lloyd, but he was almost doomed from the start. That's where I think Blake has been a real success. And as I said, adaptable. Shows he has a brain, too.

 

[Squizz]

and we understand a few of the reasons he left

I've got a few for you :

(thankfully we aren't having the same conversation about Armitage)