Mark Blake - Nuts and Bolts

[johnsmith05]

What do u guys think is the real future story for Blake? especially with the new rules coming in, means clubs may not carry two rucks. and means rucks need to be able to have better possesion %..

assuming full list, like last year blake would miss out...however ottens career is over soon so do you guys think the cats see him as the main man when ottens leaves? cos truth is, lets be honest, hes first 60 games were carried cos king and ottens were injured, so its not like he earnt hes first games by performances in VFL.

I personally think he'll leave, i heard he was in talks with Port Adelaide before 2011 season but didnt work out....hes a sensitive issue at club level as hes father is outspoken and a club life member. I think Blake woulda left this year but no one will offer him good cash, he probly should of left after 2007 when more then one club was after him and hes reputation as a schmend wasnt as bad.

 

[_Me_]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

What do u guys think is the real future story for Blake? especially with the new rules coming in, means clubs may not carry two rucks. and means rucks need to be able to have better possesion %..

assuming full list, like last year blake would miss out...however ottens career is over soon so do you guys think the cats see him as the main man when ottens leaves? cos truth is, lets be honest, hes first 60 games were carried cos king and ottens were injured, so its not like he earnt hes first games by performances in VFL.

I personally think he'll leave, i heard he was in talks with Port Adelaide before 2011 season but didnt work out....hes a sensitive issue at club level as hes father is outspoken and a club life member. I think Blake woulda left this year but no one will offer him good cash, he probly should of left after 2007 when more then one club was after him and hes reputation as a schmend wasnt as bad.

This topic has cost me 4 perm bans from the board. I called for him to be gone in 2007 because of his attitude and behaviour. Had the club known the development that would occur in mummy he would have been traded, and we would have been well rewarded.

Veedubs will post that his trajectory is on the up, and by the year 2020 he will be at his optimum.

He is an ordinary ruckman, and if we didn't have a killer midfield would have played as many games as peter street for geelong.

 

[johnsmith05]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

ok, but the main aim of the question was questioning hes future based on the new rule , with most clubs likley to go for 1 ruck and maybe a versatility ruck....and with ottens moving on, will cats push with blake or someone else? cos if they dont hell have to go cos he wont be playing any games even as early as this season , like end of last

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Gawd.

I actually have hope for him. I don't know why. Something just says to me the constant remarks about the sub are not correct.

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Oops, just realised who posted this.

Year older jonny?

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

ok, but the main aim of the question was questioning hes future based on the new rule , with most clubs likley to go for 1 ruck and maybe a versatility ruck....and with ottens moving on, will cats push with blake or someone else? cos if they dont hell have to go cos he wont be playing any games even as early as this season , like end of last

I am going to scream at my kids if they grow up with this texting attitude to spelling.
Speak english or any other coherent language. Text language is not one (yet)


Actually, that isn't even texting. It's utter tripe

 

[johnsmith05]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

haha sorry, well if use go to uni or have a uni degree ud no that this type of spelling is now academically acknowledged

 

[Vdubs]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

As _Me_ says, Blake has potential, only I believe it and he doesn't .
What do we get? Somebody who historically will be available for every game and will generate a fair supply of ball to some capable mids. Around the ground, he can be a useful but perhaps awkward looking link player. His marking around the ground needs improvement. His kicking was under utilized with Bomber's game plan. He gets the blame for all our misery last year, as of course it's his doing that we didn't have the foresight to keep Mummy.
Anyway, last year Cats vs Swans at Geelong, Blake held his own against his new foe, and also played well against Pies WHEN WE BEAT THEM. So IMO, if Ottens is out, and that is often, Blake is the #1 ruck. Somebody has to be able to compete in the ruck contests, no brainer. West, Simpson may look more appealing, but that is not reality. Around the ground, time will tell. We have never relied on Ottens up forward anyway, and maybe Vardy will change our fortunes there.

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Don't poke the bear VD

 

[Vdubs]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Don't poke the bear VD

Sorry VC, my finger went berserk and b4 you knew it, I don't know what came over me. You missed by that much

 

[maxy87]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I'd definitely keep him on the ruck rotation for depth and experience but I'm expecting to see west, vardy or Dawson to be put there if his performances are not up to scratch and ottens isn't capable of running out a game. The new rules aside, we are going to rely on our ruck to supply our miss with first use more than ever now we don't have Gazza. As _Me_ said, he was covered a lot by the quality of the mids we have but it's a much labelled playing field with Pendlebury, Swan, Hayes, Dal Santo, Cooney, Griffen and Boyd capable of exposing us if we can't get first use of the ball.

He's had his probation in my view and it's time to start treating every game like it's a privilege and not a right of passage under Bomber

 

[David the Cat]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I haven't ever involved myself in a discussion on Blake, but I think he hasn't been near good enough, particularly in 2010.

I know VD is a supporter, but to say " his marking around the ground needs improvement" and his " kicking was under utilised" is being very kind indeed. Furthermore, his tap work is in my view a little overblown.

If we look at 2010, he averaged 2 kicks ( certainly under utilised ) and 8 handballs a match. His marking around the ground was, for a very big man, frankly pathetic. He averaged just 2 marks per game last year. I dont know how many of those were contested, or taken above his head. He didn't manage to average 1 tackle per game last year. In my view, thats just not good enough.

But even more revealing is that he ranked only 12th in total hitouts and 14th in hit outs per game. IF this is what we are basing Blake's value on, then ..well....I think we can do better. I think others may be more blunt!

Supporters may say it was the " quality" of his tap work that we should look at and maybe that is fair enough. But given the way the game is going, the sub rule, and the big kids around now who are so mobile and can take a good grab then unless there is a remarkable change in the way he goes about playing the game, his time is short IMO.

 

[Cohzee]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

haha sorry, well if use go to uni or have a uni degree ud no that this type of spelling is now academically acknowledged

Bloody painful to read.

 

[Berserker26]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I've been back and forth on blakey for years now, i think though, he's had his day.

Being a tap only ruckman is not enough anymore. I don't feel blake imposes himself on marking contests - he should also be somewhat of an 'out' to boot it to when we can find a good kick-in from a behind, which he isn't.

It's fair to say that not everyone can have a sandilands/cox/jamar in their team, however all ruckmen should in this day and age have multiple facets to their game. I think even our backup ruckmen over previous years have had the skills to play senior footy and could have stepped up - thinking simpson and west.

I like blake, and love him when he boots a goal, however he's just not well-rounded enough to be a main-stay in the team. His reliability to turn up each week is his best asset.

My 2 cents.

 

[Sttew]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

My patience with Blake has worn thin. I thought that, like his dad, he would take a few years to blossom. But Mark hasn't really progressed. He might be a good tap ruckman, but his lack of pace, inability to mark, kick and do much else makes him a liability with no value. He will disappear into oblivion.

Expect Nathan Vardy to well and truly leap frog Blake in 2011.

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Blake will be the Geelong #1 ruckman by Rd2 when Otto goes down.......again
Go get 'em Blakey !!!

 

[winty]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

In my opinion, the jury's out on Blakey. The new substitute rule tends to suggest he might be on the outer, but I'm hoping that the new coach can get the best out of the big lug.

We've seen many times in the past players who look average at best under one coach get a new lease of life when there's someone else at the helm. Hopefully Blake's one of them.

 

[Scottland2007]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

There is a reason why when Blake said he wanted out at the end of 2010, that no club took him.

I don't expect the new rule to change the fact that we need 2 ruckmen on game day (what if your only ruckman goes down during the game?). I do expect West or Simpson to offer more after the bounce and overtake Blake for the 2nd ruck role.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

His marking around the ground was, for a very big man, frankly pathetic. He averaged just 2 marks per game last year. I dont know how many of those were contested, or taken above his head. He didn't manage to average 1 tackle per game last year. In my view, thats just not good enough.

But even more revealing is that he ranked only 12th in total hitouts and 14th in hit outs per game. IF this is what we are basing Blake's value on, then ..well....I think we can do better. I think others may be more blunt!

I'm not a Blake apologist, by any means, but it's hard to take marks when your teammates will not kick to you. Bit of a chicken/egg argument though (why don't his teammates kick to him?). Hitout stats should also be put in some context. I'd like to see the HO/HO to advantage to time on ground ratio as a better indicator.

As I see it, Blake is on a rung below Ottens, with West, Simpson and Vardy. And all three of those guys would probably be preferred at the moment, because they could turn in to something. He'd have to produce career-best form by a significant margin to get ahead of those three. I'd bet on him playing less than five games this year.

 

[Partridge]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I personally think he'll leave, i heard he was in talks with Port Adelaide before 2011 season but didnt work out....hes a sensitive issue at club level as hes father is outspoken and a club life member. I think Blake woulda left this year but no one will offer him good cash, he probly should of left after 2007 when more then one club was after him and hes reputation as a schmend wasnt as bad.

Firstly, is there any actual evidence of this? How can it possibly be a sensitive issue? If a player isn't up to it he gets delisted. Simple. I just want to see proof that any club is running themselves in such an amateurish way to let a player dictate terms. I haven't seen Blake say he wanted out (if he did again, please enlighten me), but otherwise it's all hearsay.

Back to his football abilities, I think unless he can develop some other attributes really quickly, he's in big trouble. He is a good - even very good - tap ruckman. But around the ground he's useless. Doesn't get anywhere near enough possessions, can't mark overhead, dodgy kick, and provides no physical pressure. I would have West or Simpson ahead of him without blinking (obviously Ottens is miles ahead).

My personal choice, taking into account the 3 interchange + 1 sub, is Ottens first ruck, with West second on the bench. If Simpson or Vardy show brilliant pre-season form by all means put them in for West (assuming Otto's form is sound). The sub to me must be a running player, it would be nothing less than insanity to do otherwise.

So, hate to say it, but unless Blake can reinvent himself, I can't see him being around much longer. You can't be sentimental, and right now he doesn't offer enough.

 

[2minNoodle]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I'm not a Blake apologist, by any means, but it's hard to take marks when your teammates will not kick to you. Bit of a chicken/egg argument though (why don't his teammates kick to him?). Hitout stats should also be put in some context. I'd like to see the HO/HO to advantage to time on ground ratio as a better indicator.

As I see it, Blake is on a rung below Ottens, with West, Simpson and Vardy. And all three of those guys would probably be preferred at the moment, because they could turn in to something. He'd have to produce career-best form by a significant margin to get ahead of those three. I'd bet on him playing less than five games this year.

We need a target for kickouts after behinds. I don't think I've ever seen him present - even seen him actively move to a poor position to guarantee it won't come to him.

 

[Scottland2007]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

& I would have a kid with limited game time as the spare on the bench. 3 quarters gone, game up or down by 50 points, bring him on.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

I haven't ever involved myself in a discussion on Blake, but I think he hasn't been near good enough, particularly in 2010.

I know VD is a supporter, but to say " his marking around the ground needs improvement" and his " kicking was under utilised" is being very kind indeed. Furthermore, his tap work is in my view a little overblown.

If we look at 2010, he averaged 2 kicks ( certainly under utilised ) and 8 handballs a match. His marking around the ground was, for a very big man, frankly pathetic. He averaged just 2 marks per game last year. I dont know how many of those were contested, or taken above his head. He didn't manage to average 1 tackle per game last year. In my view, thats just not good enough.

But even more revealing is that he ranked only 12th in total hitouts and 14th in hit outs per game. IF this is what we are basing Blake's value on, then ..well....I think we can do better. I think others may be more blunt!

Supporters may say it was the " quality" of his tap work that we should look at and maybe that is fair enough. But given the way the game is going, the sub rule, and the big kids around now who are so mobile and can take a good grab then unless there is a remarkable change in the way he goes about playing the game, his time is short IMO.[/quote]


All Clubs will be looking to combine the traditional "tap" role with the mobile , athletic , run all day and present around the ground role - a cross between Jolly and Natanui would be perfect.
Rucks who can only do one of these roles will become extinct such is the way the game is evolving. The Ruck of the future will need to average 15 possessions excluding hitouts.
I think Clubs will aim for 2 Rucks who fit this description rather than a "Tap" specialist with a mobile backup.
I think Simpson has potential to be this type of player and I certainly see us grooming West, Vardy and Bathie for this role.

 

[corio bay]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

... I haven't seen Blake say he wanted out (if he did again, please enlighten me), but otherwise it's all hearsay.

MARK Blake is likely to stay at Geelong next season because no interest has been shown in the out-of-favour ruckman. Blake, 25, has played 99 games for the Cats and asked for a trade after he was dropped for the semi-final against Fremantle.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mark-blake-attracts-no-interest/story-e6frf9jf-1225935199247


Personally, i dont think he is good enough, but the last few seasons he has been our only 2nd option.

looking forward to seeing the younger big lads step up this season

 

[Junk Time]

Re: Blake Nuts and Bolts

Firstly, is there any actual evidence of this? How can it possibly be a sensitive issue? If a player isn't up to it he gets delisted. Simple. I just want to see proof that any club is running themselves in such an amateurish way to let a player dictate terms. I haven't seen Blake say he wanted out (if he did again, please enlighten me), but otherwise it's all hearsay.

Back to his football abilities, I think unless he can develop some other attributes really quickly, he's in big trouble. He is a good - even very good - tap ruckman. But around the ground he's useless. Doesn't get anywhere near enough possessions, can't mark overhead, dodgy kick, and provides no physical pressure. I would have West or Simpson ahead of him without blinking (obviously Ottens is miles ahead).

My personal choice, taking into account the 3 interchange + 1 sub, is Ottens first ruck, with West second on the bench. If Simpson or Vardy show brilliant pre-season form by all means put them in for West (assuming Otto's form is sound). The sub to me must be a running player, it would be nothing less than insanity to do otherwise.

So, hate to say it, but unless Blake can reinvent himself, I can't see him being around much longer. You can't be sentimental, and right now he doesn't offer enough.

"I think Geelong has handled him exceptionally poorly and it goes back before the Grand Final, for God's sake."

Rod after the GF in 07 - I would say that it's somewhat outspoken