Mark Blake

[Turbocat]

Id like to see this kid break into the main game but the trouble is where.
Ive seen him play a little and to me he looks reasonably mobile for a big player. Could we have a stuation where he and Mooney rotate through the ruck position > Say he rucks then falls back while Mooney then plays on ball , the position that got him playing so well last year. He would be far more focused on the ball rather than a direct opponent thus less brain snaps and Blake would add height support in the backline.
Who knows he might just prove to be a Keppler Bradley type that can play CHB , allowing Harley to play as more agressive third tall. It would also give us the option of going super tall to break a side , King in the sqaure and Ottens on the lead, not many could match them both up.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

I'm a big rap for Blake, but don't think he'd be anything but a ruckman in the AFL.

Time and some bulk on his frame may change that, but at this stage i can't see him being a worthwhile CHB.

 

[diamond8]

Turbocat, Phat is correct. Blakey is a ruckman/pinch hitter forward and I doubt whether he'll ever be played back.

 

[Tweak Talent]

Blakey=SOFT!!

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Hard, tough 19yo underdone ruckman are as rare as a Kent Kingsley pack mark.

 

[R'Kid]

Hard? Tough? Have you ever seen this guy play? He's as soft as they come. Waste of a perfectly good draft pick. Has some skill as a ruckman but is nowhere near AFL level. With time maybe but somehow I doubt it.

 

[GeeCat]

Perhaps you ought to re-read the post above you R'Kid

 

[Mr X]

Hard? Tough? Have you ever seen this guy play? He's as soft as they come. Waste of a perfectly good draft pick. Has some skill as a ruckman but is nowhere near AFL level. With time maybe but somehow I doubt it.

Hence Phat's comment.

How often have you seen Kent Kingsley take a pack mark??

Ruckmen need to develop. Give him time to bulk up.

Most ruckman are very raw at 19. You will not seem them come in and dominate until usually around 22, 23 when they have stopped growing and had a chance to add bulk and fill out.

Paitence is required.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Hard? Tough? Have you ever seen this guy play? He's as soft as they come.

As others have pointed out, re-read what i posted.

Waste of a perfectly good draft pick.

He's 19 for god sake.

 

[R'Kid]

My apologies, I misread the post. I must admit I do jump at the chance to get in to Blakey because frankly, I hate him. I stand by my comments about him as a player however, and I don't think he is good enough. Again, my apologies Phat.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

What has he done to make you hate him?

I don't even hate James Rahilly.

 

[Turbocat]

I'm a big rap for Blake, but don't think he'd be anything but a ruckman in the AFL.

Time and some bulk on his frame may change that, but at this stage i can't see him being a worthwhile CHB.

I defer to your Judgement Phat but what makes you think he could not play as a tall in a backline with Scarlo and Harley there to back him up. Is he slower than I thnk, too easily pushed off in marking contests or lacks football judgement? Put it this way , Kozinski at the Saints , similar size , has played in the ruck, CHF and CHB and we would have more support for him in the backline. Maybe this player, backs up your thoughts in making sure we build him up rather than thrash him before he is ready but id like to see him have a run all the same

 

[Fall Out Boy]

He doesn't have the skills nor the quickness of mind to play that role at this stage.

Both areas can be developed, to some extent, so i wouldn't totally write him off for those roles yet but at the minute he looks like a ruckman only.

 

[whats_footy]

I can't believe all these threads that undermine every budding AFL player. I can only hope that you lot are eating your words in the next few months as these types of players push through the ranks.

I wonder how many of you would have criticised a young James Hird for his height/size/weight/strength.

 

[R'Kid]

I honestly hope I do have to eat my words in the future. As I said I'm not the guys biggest fan but I'm still a Geelong supporter and hope he can produce the goods to play well at AFL level at some stage. Having said that, I've seen little from him to suggest that he will, but hopefully he will develop.

btw Phat, I went to school with him so my dislike for him isn't just a random, unsubstantiated opinion.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

btw Phat, I went to school with him so my dislike for him isn't just a random, unsubstantiated opinion.

Fair enough.

Fair to say that your dislike of the bloke may impact on your opinion of his footballing ability?

 

[R'Kid]

Fair enough.

Fair to say that your dislike of the bloke may impact on your opinion of his footballing ability?

A fair observation. I'll admit that my dislike for him has meant I scrutinise him more than some other players. Even so, I'm not convinced he is good enough. Time will tell.

 

[nananana catman]

He would be far more focused on the ball rather than a direct opponent thus less brain snaps and Blake would add height support in the backline.
Who knows he might just prove to be a Keppler Bradley type that can play CHB , allowing Harley to play as more agressive third tall.

I fin it a tad humurous you believe Matthew Spencer to be too slow to play CHB at AFL level yet raise the idea of using Blake in the same role. I too went to school with Blake and although this my taint my view of him, I think he has gone backwards this year.

Apart from making Spencer look quick and mobile, he is soft. Now there is a difference from being a tough player (which phat suggested there werent too many 19yo rucks around) and being soft.

He'll need to seriously improve on this if he wants to make the grade, but he does a have good leap in the centre square.

 

[Turbocat]

Apart from making Spencer look quick and mobile, he is soft. Now there is a difference from being a tough player (which phat suggested there werent too many 19yo rucks around) and being soft.

He'll need to seriously improve on this if he wants to make the grade, but he does a have good leap in the centre square.

Glad to supply a tad of humour. I havent seen him try to play those type of positions so you may be dead right. I seem to remember that he had a good leap, dont think Spenser has from what Ive seen ,good straight ahead movement but lateral mobility may well be a problem for him as well

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Now there is a difference from being a tough player (which phat suggested there werent too many 19yo rucks around) and being soft.

Almost every single 19yo ruckman is soft.

Guys like Peter Everitt, Shaun Rehn, Luke Darcy and Jeff White were all incredibly soft at Blake's age.

Judging the kid now is both premature and short-sighted.