Mark Blake overrated

[catempire]

why is john barnes even mentioned - so, he was shorter but around the ground he is incomparable to blake. to say "barnes did it @196" is dumb-founding.

BBC was saying that Blake will struggle in the ruck because he's too short (200cm).

I'm sure BBC wasn't suggesting Blake would struggle around the ground because he is "too short". He must have been suggesting that he'd struggle at ruck contests. The point was that Barnes didn't struggle in ruck contests and he was shorter.

 

[darren forssman]

He must have been suggesting that he'd struggle at ruck contests.

blake doesnt struggle at ruck contests...it is the one real area where he wasnt deficient.

 

[GeeCat]

Blake is doing a good job at the moment. He does get a few taps to advantage and taps to good spots but overall our midfielders just need to win more clearances its as simple as that.

Abit off topic (or more on a tangent), but our positioning at set pieces is pretty poor (if at best, subpar). Blakey won't (and hasn't yet really shown to date) have a problem getting his hands on the pill. It's what happens after that is the concern. It's why I do question how much we work on these things.

While I agree that part of the problem is the players we play (be that playing our better centre square players anywhere but there or a general lack of ability in clearance work), the positioning and movement off the ball aspect (including blocking, shepherding etc) can be taught, rehearsed, practiced, and improved upon. Why hasn't it?

 

[catman2006]

Blake is the leading young Ruckman in the afl this year.
Has had more hitouts then most senior rucks ranked 6th overall just need him to do bit more around the ground, when he matures more he will be up there with the leaders in a few years.

 

[darren forssman]

Blake is the leading young Ruckman in the afl this year.

i would say that be hamish mcintosh.

 

[catman2006]

i would say that be hamish mcintosh.

Hamish is doing alot more around the ground but hitouts Blake is leading,just our midfield are not reading him.

 

[passthebottle]

Starting to play good footy. I thought tonites game was very good albeit against poor opposition.
Way better than King at the moment as much as it pains me to say but i think the game has passed King by.

 

[finrod]

I thought Blake was pretty damn good tonight, although he was only up against Richo who is no ruckman. But he at least gets some leap off the ground which is much more than anyone can say for King at the moment. Plus a high percentage of his hitouts went straight down the throats of Geelong players...