Throw in a bloke who was just recently his clubs captain.
Point of fact, there's nothing wrong with Blakes hand passes, nearly always picks the right option and hits his target with them.
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Throw in a bloke who was just recently his clubs captain.
Point of fact, there's nothing wrong with Blakes hand passes, nearly always picks the right option and hits his target with them.
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here comes the Blake bagging again. Blakey played OK the other night and is still our #2 ruckman by a long way
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You may see it that way, I don't. How about you put your affections aside and look at what could potentially improve the side, which is my point. Blake is a weakness in our side, which is indisputable. When Ottens is injured, which is always likely due to his age, we all of a sudden have a pretty obvious weakness in our structure. Blake lacks size and is not an effective tap ruckman.
To say his his our #2 by a long way is going a little far I think. I would like to see West at least get a go during the H&A season of '09. I think without Ottens come finals time (always possible), we are not going to get the job done. This is an issue for the team.
Nothing to do with affections, and that "may" have been your point but when you make sweeping, and erroneous statements like "Blake is possibly the worst disposer of the ball in the league" you have to expect to be called on it.
Now you're making a few points worth discussing, don't agree that he's "indisputably" a weakness, he's our second best ruckman at the moment and does a good job in that role.
I'd like to see West get some game time also, but to think he'll do a better job in the number one spot if Ottens goes down is drawing a long bow IMO.
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Agreed. He may not provide anything major up forward but hes handy to have in the middle for link-up work, etc.
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- #31
All the same, Blake looks very indecisive and doesn't have a good sense of where his team mates are. If you haven't seen Geelong players opting not to pass it to Blake purely for his lack of ability, your not looking hard enough.
My point is very valid considering affection for this player. His 'cult' status has thrust him far above where his ability is currently at for many fans... I've never seen a player in recent memory other than Blake getting a round of applause for actually kicking the ball, even if it does go backwards or sideways. Lets not even start about treatment he gets when kicking a goal. Open your eyes turkey.
winty - To make a point that Scott Lucas had a worst kicking efficiency, somehow makes Blake a better kick shows you've completely wasted your time.
winty
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- #32
You asked for someone to list players who are worse at disposing the ball by either foot or hand than Blake is, suggesting that it's a difficult task.
My post just highlighted that, after a flick through the AFL Prospectus for about 15-20 min, anyone could name about 100 players who's kicking efficiency was worse than Blake's last season. If you take a closer look at that list too, you'll see quite a few players are ruckmen, including those considered to be amongst the best ruckmen in the league, namely Cox, Sandilands, Hille, McIntosh and Ottens, which suggests to me kicking efficiency isn't much of a priority in judging ruckmen.
I agree with you that his disposal is somewhat lacking at times. That isn't why he's in the side though. He's in the side as a backup ruckman, and the fact he was 4th in the league for hitouts last season suggests to me that he does his job to the best of his ability.
Besides, with the players of the ilk of Selwood, Ablett, Bartel, Mackie, Enright, Corey etc. running past him, I'm more than happy with him handballing more than he kicks anyway, and the fact his handballing efficiency was at 88% last season suggests he does this quite well, especially considering he gets the ball in the corridor more often than not.
Vdubs
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- #33
Blake is bigger than West and is a very effective tap ruckman. Do you speak to opposition supporters? I never get the n egative feedback about Blake that some Cat supporters dish out. Sure you may be passionate about our team, but Blake is not unskilled, does create lots of opportunities, gets a pile of hitouts, and spends 1/2 the game on the bench. His handpasses hit their targets and when he does kick, it doesn't look unco. I'm no relative, but I for one actually feel he is an asset. Who right now is a better no.2 ruck in the AFL?
ESKIE
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Can you cat people help me with Shane Mummford, I'm looking at him for my supercoach team, does he show promise, likely to play this year???
Thanks.
Thanks.
Has an excellent sense of where his team mates are IMO, which is why his hand balls almost always hit their mark.
I can't help what other fans may think, but your previous remark was directed at me specifically.
Nothing more then a bit of fun.
Okay.
Bottom line, a kicking efficiency of 65% and a hand ball efficiency of 88% is nowhere near the worst in the competition, especially considering he hand balls far more then he kicks.
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Thank you.
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- #39
You really need to watch the games closer. His handballs are always to runners who he waits to run past, or he goes backwards to them... they should always hit the targets. Bad, bad example to support your argument.
I'm talking more about whats important as far as Blake is concerned... taps to advantage. I watched the replay this arvo of Friday nights game... as an example, have a look. Too often tapping the ball to the opposition blindly or being beaten by skin and bones Wood.
This is just another case of an emotional supporter(YOU), getting all upset over criticism of one of our own. That's our given right... well mine anyway, being a fully paid member. I want the best for my team, AFL is a profession and I don't care if he's a cult hero in Geelong or not... I want to win another flag and when team mates obviously don't have full confidense in a player(hesistant to give him the ball), its an issue. If he doesn't improve this year, West deserves a crack at least.
You've got me there mate, how dare he feed the ball out to a running player in the clear with 88% efficiency, which fits perfectly with our style of play, yep, bad, bad example.
While you're passing out these pearls of wisdom perhaps you could explain to me how an overall disposal efficiency rate of around 80% makes him "possibly the worst disposer of the ball in the league" I'd be very interested in your explanation.
Mate sitting here in front of the computer I couldn't be any less emotional, I'm almost comatose to be perfectly honest, and not in the least bit upset about criticism of the players which, as you say, is your given right, but I do get a tad miffed when someone [ YOU ] makes exaggerated and inaccurate statements about players just to support their arguments.
This may come as a shock to you as well, but you're not the only one who wants another flag this year, and if our chances of doing that would be improved by playing West ahead of Blake then so be it, but at this point in time that isn't the case.
Sure Blake needs to keep improving, as does West before he's a genuine challenger for the second ruck spot.
As for the players being hesitant to give him the ball, well just refer back to my statement about "exaggerated and inaccurate statements."
Come on own up, you "are" takin the piss aren't you? ......... I hope.