Rumour Mark Blake?

[Sttew]

Haven't heard any rumours but wouldn't blame Blake if he did walk.Whether he can play or not, he has played for I think four seasons now. He has carried the ruck load with a very injured and unreliable Ottens(who yes remains the better ruckman)obviously with the club/coaches support.
We didn't need King in the 2007 GF.
Now Our senior Coach has suddenly decided that Blake needs to learn to play 'our way/ a different way'. What the hell does that mean after all this time. He is either a ruckman or not and given that he has been played there for all of this time , then he must be, or the coaches are all delusional and don't know what they are doing.
As for Mumford he and the club made a decision which has nothing to do with Blake.
So I think that he has a right to be p****d off. Plus what happens if Ottens breaks down again and Hawkins fails to be fit enough to play in a GF. Now Blake will be somewhat out of form and not ready either.

If we're talking about rumours, the word is the players, particularly the midfielders, were also fed up with Blake not doing the team thing. His statistics were pretty ordinary, and when that happens and you're not entrenched in the team, it means a spell in the VFL. Its now up to Blake to work his way back in.

 

[Vdubs]

I'd rather see Ottens retire end season than lose Blake. Would be sheer stupidity to have nurtured Blake this far only to let him go and blossom elsewhere. Some tools here on BF seem to have no idea about development and maturity of players. Blake is an ongoing work in progress and will dominate, it's genetic. When did Jamar become desirable? Not everybody progresses at Mummy's rate, and I doubt that his way of playing is sustainable long term.

We have no desperate need to recruit other rucks with who we have-Ottens 1year, West/Simpson, indefinite if we retain them, ditto Blake, and Vardy is a real prospect. Why anyone would talk about Fraser/Cox is beyond me. Cox can play but is rapidly declining and can't even be #1 at WCE.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The Gold Coast would be logical destination for Blake, when you think about it. They could pick him for nothing in the pre-season draft, he could get his big salary and regular game.

I really hope we keep him, i think he is a useful player, but the only way that will happen is if he is picked for the finals which is looking a little bit shaky at this stage.

I hope like heck he doesn't walk via the draft (I hope Bock doesn't go that way either, all clubs deserve some compensation).

Does anyone know if Blake is under contract for 2011?

How about our first rounder for Blake?
Fair trade as we get a young developing ruckman and you guys get a decent pick which enables you to build after your current dynasty.

Why would you want Blake? You have two good ruckmen so you have no spot for him.

I'd rather see Ottens retire end season than lose Blake. Would be sheer stupidity to have nurtured Blake this far only to let him go and blossom elsewhere. Some tools here on BF seem to have no idea about development and maturity of players. Blake is an ongoing work in progress and will dominate, it's genetic. When did Jamar become desirable? Not everybody progresses at Mummy's rate, and I doubt that his way of playing is sustainable long term.

We have no desperate need to recruit other rucks with who we have-Ottens 1year, West/Simpson, indefinite if we retain them, ditto Blake, and Vardy is a real prospect. Why anyone would talk about Fraser/Cox is beyond me. Cox can play but is rapidly declining and can't even be #1 at WCE.

I agree with you, I wouldn't get rid of Blake. However he might decide to leave, and we can't stop him doing that, which I think is the point of the thread.

On Cox, I would admit he's only got another couple of years left in him, but they're good years, and if Blake walked, he would have to be looked at, assuming Ottens were to retire. While West, Simpson and Vardy may make it, and could play some AFL between them, they are in no way ready to carry the mantle next year. If that were our ruck division for 2011 you could kiss any chance of another premiership goodbye, which is why you would have to look at another senior ruckman, even if it was only short term. Personally I don't want to, and I'd rather keep Blake, but I'm just saying, if the worst should happen.....

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I'd rather see Ottens retire end season than lose Blake. Would be sheer stupidity to have nurtured Blake this far only to let him go and blossom elsewhere. Some tools here on BF seem to have no idea about development and maturity of players. Blake is an ongoing work in progress and will dominate, it's genetic. When did Jamar become desirable? Not everybody progresses at Mummy's rate, and I doubt that his way of playing is sustainable long term.

We have no desperate need to recruit other rucks with who we have-Ottens 1year, West/Simpson, indefinite if we retain them, ditto Blake, and Vardy is a real prospect. Why anyone would talk about Fraser/Cox is beyond me. Cox can play but is rapidly declining and can't even be #1 at WCE.

So the whole team is in shutdown until Mark Blake can play a decent all round game? Because really, its all about Blake. The rest of the team is hanging about waiting for Godot. Blake, Blake, Blake. Lets name the town: Blaketown.

The guy is 25 next month for pete's sake!!! This isn't Test Cricket when they start to hit their peak at 30.

I'm sorry, but its not all about Blake. He should be traded. He is not his father, and anyway that was a slower era.

Nopthing whatsoever against Blake. But I have seen it before. Slow is as slow does. His reflexes are slow, and his movement is slow and it will never change. In fact, its a credit to him that he has got this far.

And whats more, his attitude after the 2007 finals absolutely sucked. A very poor comparison to Stokes' handling of last year.

 

[Turbocat]

Well Turbo - he was boiler maker and just a big country lad.... .

Belisarius , you are quite correct we are all different and we see thing differently.

To me he left for a better professional future , inspite of what Geelong had given to him. The question is if that future is predominantly based on a comfortable living environment , senior games , success or money.

Country life. He may well have been happy to eat out his days in the bush yet something drove him to strive , to prove himself.He saw that he could match the guys in the VFL and wanted to better them.He may well prefer our pace of life in CatTown but he chose to move to the biggest city in Aus.So he has already put something ahead of his preferred location.

Senior games. He got 18 as a second year Rookie and impressed most who saw him yet he still had heaps of improvement in him. Yet had no confidence that he would be able to go past Blake as their preferred choice. If he honestly wanted guarantees , he must have thought he was above the normal processes of football club , like earning games on merit. The thing is no guarantees were needed , he had so much more to offer than Blake that he would now have become that regular player here had he stayed. He went to a club that was also bringing another more mature ruckman as their number1 option , but he still went.


Success. To move because he missed finals in his second year is ridiculous. Sanderson missed a GF in 95 and never got another chance yet he became a club champion.He was only in his second year how many players would take much longer than that to be first picked players. He played 18 games thru the year. Well done but really how many players just on our list now have missed GF positions. Surly Mumford must have seen that this list would have been a very good chance again this year , certainly better than Sydney. Yet he still got on the bus.


$$$$. He might not be totally focused on the dollar as the be all and end all but he , like anybody would know the value earning a dollar and how it can set him up for his future. I see nothing wrong in him getting remuneration for his talent.Sydney had the ability to offer way above what we could , or in fact more than what most would say he was worth at the time. Looking now , who could deny he was worth the money.


Now this is the way I see it , its "IMO".

 

[_Me_]

Yes. Nice wrap up.

Still the club wanted him and you can see why. He has turned into a terrific player. But the promise of future reward over his being dropped in late 2009 due to tiredness and lack of form wasn't enough to sway him. So he left. For money, game time whatever, but he still left and in the game vs Swans at Kardinia Park when Blake kicked a long goal from the boundary Mooney sure let Mumford know about it.

This is the basic difference between the 2 players. Blake played almost every game in 2007 and was dropped for the Grand Final. He was then allegedly offered a good deal to go to St Kilda. He refused and stayed at Geelong for less money and for only a 2 year contract. When Mumford was put in the same position he took the money and ran. Can I blame him? Sure! Others stayed at the club for less money and took pay cuts - Harley played for very little money in his last 2 seasons! That's why I couldn't give a flying fig for Mumford. The club took him in, trained him up, developed him and told him they wanted him to stay. Then he pissed on everything the club did for him. How dare he question the judgment of the club that did so much for him? He can feck off to the Swans for a mediocre career while my team continues to fight and win and sacrifice themselves for each other and the club.

Let us forget Blake's behaviour which forced King to be traded, and the SMS to SEN.

You are clearly in the i love Blake camp, but don't let the truth get in the way of your story.

 

[_Me_]

So the whole team is in shutdown until Mark Blake can play a decent all round game? Because really, its all about Blake. The rest of the team is hanging about waiting for Godot. Blake, Blake, Blake. Lets name the town: Blaketown.

The guy is 25 next month for pete's sake!!! This isn't Test Cricket when they start to hit their peak at 30.

I'm sorry, but its not all about Blake. He should be traded. He is not his father, and anyway that was a slower era.

Nopthing whatsoever against Blake. But I have seen it before. Slow is as slow does. His reflexes are slow, and his movement is slow and it will never change. In fact, its a credit to him that he has got this far.

And whats more, his attitude after the 2007 finals absolutely sucked. A very poor comparison to Stokes' handling of last year.

Shhh the Blake camp seem to have plants in this forum. No other player gets away with his attitude with so much support.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

Let us forget Blake's behaviour which forced King to be traded, and the SMS to SEN.

You are clearly in the i love Blake camp, but don't let the truth get in the way of your story.

Yeah and reading some of these posts I can understand why Mumford might have thought at the time he was never going to get past Blake.

We used to call them "Gee, thanks Dad" players.

 

[Vdubs]

Shhh the Blake camp seem to have plants in this forum. No other player gets away with his attitude with so much support.

What do you know about Blake's attitude to being dumped for King in 07 GF? He was there at the game and shared moments with all the winners including King. He didn't even get to play in the 2's GF win as he hadn't qualified- played too many 1's games. And when it was looking embarrassing for King to miss, Blake was given REST time for 2 weeks which he didn't need, then lost form. He was allowed to be hugely disappointed. What attitude problem do you refer to? This gets dragged up all the time. His father spoke out in the media, only because he was questioned . Mark was not commenting- nothing wrong there.

So what did we see in him in 07 to keep him in preference to King? He could easily have been at St. Kilda. Your attitude statement is a throwaway.

 

[Vdubs]

So the whole team is in shutdown until Mark Blake can play a decent all round game? Because really, its all about Blake. The rest of the team is hanging about waiting for Godot. Blake, Blake, Blake. Lets name the town: Blaketown.

The guy is 25 next month for pete's sake!!! This isn't Test Cricket when they start to hit their peak at 30.

I'm sorry, but its not all about Blake. He should be traded. He is not his father, and anyway that was a slower era.

Nopthing whatsoever against Blake. But I have seen it before. Slow is as slow does. His reflexes are slow, and his movement is slow and it will never change. In fact, its a credit to him that he has got this far.

And whats more, his attitude after the 2007 finals absolutely sucked. A very poor comparison to Stokes' handling of last year.

What a melodramatic reaction. Again you have no real idea about his 07 attitude.

 

[Gogeelong]

When is the last time Blake got 21 pos. and 11 effective tapouts with a dominant game like Mumford this weekend? A GREAT pity he is not on our list.

We have lost King and Mumford to keep Blake on our list so far.
I doubt he would want to leave us as he knows we have invested too much into him so far.

I do not see the value that the coaching staff and some others believe he is capable of. I trust our coaches will do the right thing by the team whatever they decide.

 

[Vdubs]

When is the last time Blake got 21 pos. and 11 effective tapouts with a dominant game like Mumford this weekend? A GREAT pity he is not on our list.

We have lost King and Mumford to keep Blake on our list so far.
I doubt he would want to leave us as he knows we have invested too much into him so far.

I do not see the value that the coaching staff and some others believe he is capable of. I trust our coaches will do the right thing by the team whatever they decide.

2008 against David Hille. Who did Mummy beat on Sat.? Kepler Bradley. Blake would eat him in the ruck contests too. The only time they have played on each other, Blake was not embarrassed and probably broke even.Mummy is in great form but we didn't lose him to keep Blake. Mumford was poor near the end of 09 and Blake was better. That's all. That Blake played the GF is nothing to do with errors; didn't hear anyone last year complain that Blake played and Mummy didn't .That only happened after we lost Mummy.

 

[JUBJUB]

Who did Mummy beat on Sat.? Kepler Bradley.

Hey,don't forget the Freo veteran ruckman Zac Clarke

 

[RegHickeyStand]

What a melodramatic reaction. Again you have no real idea about his 07 attitude.

OK, fill me in. The common knowledge is that Blake swore he would leave the club if King didn't, and therefore King's trade to St Kilda about a fortnight after the finals.

So if you know otherwise please tell. As this is what I understood was the situation.

 

[Vdubs]

OK, fill me in. The common knowledge is that Blake swore he would leave the club if King didn't, and therefore King's trade to St Kilda about a fortnight after the finals.

So if you know otherwise please tell. As this is what I understood was the situation.

I have no idea either but now I like your tone. Does anyone KNOW the truth? Didn't Geelong have to decide financially between keeping a past-his-best or a potential? We gave King to St.Kilda for zilch because of salary cap. You really think Blake at 21 had the power to make Geelong do that? I for one was really pissed off we gave King to one of our major rivals. As it has turned out King has in no way hurt us whilst at St. Kilda.


Stokes owed us nothing less after his 08 farce. Shouldn't compare with the Blake scene. Wojo on the other hand..... should NEVER EVER be left out of our finals teams

 

[Casey Cat]

Let us forget Blake's behaviour which forced King to be traded, and the SMS to SEN.

You are clearly in the i love Blake camp, but don't let the truth get in the way of your story.

Where did I say I love Blake?
How do you know Blake forced the club to trade King?
How could you possibly believe that Blake could tell Thompson, Balme, Cook et al how to run the club?
How do you know it was Blake who sent the SMS?

I forgot - you don't answer questions.

Just for good measure: have you figured out which grand final Blake didn't attend yet or were you just talking sh1t? I just want to know. I honestly want to respect you and your opinion but you're not helping me with your personal attacks.

Besides, my thoughts on Mumford still stand. He put himself ahead of the club. He should be owning the ruck at Geelong now with Ottens and we would be unbeatable. But the prick walked out for money, opportunity, whatever and wasn't prepared to wait, put in the hard work and sacrifice like so many other great players in our team, past and present. For this I do not respect Mumford and he can rot in Sydney for all I care.

It's strange but you sound like an annoying prat on Cats Claw who practically owns the place and bullies everyone into submission with inane, stupid and endless posts. Only a few brave souls stand up to him, JubJub being one of them.

 

[Vdubs]

I hope like heck he doesn't walk via the draft (I hope Bock doesn't go that way either, all clubs deserve some compensation).

Does anyone know if Blake is under contract for 2011?



Why would you want Blake? You have two good ruckmen so you have no spot for him.


I agree with you, I wouldn't get rid of Blake. However he might decide to leave, and we can't stop him doing that, which I think is the point of the thread.

On Cox, I would admit he's only got another couple of years left in him, but they're good years, and if Blake walked, he would have to be looked at, assuming Ottens were to retire. While West, Simpson and Vardy may make it, and could play some AFL between them, they are in no way ready to carry the mantle next year. If that were our ruck division for 2011 you could kiss any chance of another premiership goodbye, which is why you would have to look at another senior ruckman, even if it was only short term. Personally I don't want to, and I'd rather keep Blake, but I'm just saying, if the worst should happen.....

West etc might have to be ready. Mumford wasn't ready to be the #1 ruck at Sydney , let alone the AFL when he left, but circumstances and effort have forced his rise to prominence. Blake has covered the absence of Ottens well this year. It's only since Ottens and Hawkins have BOTH become available that they have been forced to "deal" with Blake's inadequacies. Bomber was quoted as being happy with him, look back to the first Pies game, etc. Now, because of a wealth of riches, as it were, Blake is fighting for a spot, which is fair enough but he is very capable of handling the #1 ruck spot in most games.

 

[Casey Cat]

When is the last time Blake got 21 pos. and 11 effective tapouts with a dominant game like Mumford this weekend? A GREAT pity he is not on our list.

Not often, I'm afraid, but against the Lions in round 8 he had 20 possessions and 24 hit outs and the next week he had 15 possessions and 21 hit outs against Darren Jolly (Collingwood).

In round 14 against North he had another 15 possession game and 20 hit outs.

Link: http://www.gfc.com.au/players/playe.../senior/season/2010/selected/bio/default.aspx

Click on the Stats tab.

Blake is certainly capable of producing the goods but obviously he needs to do it more often.

Mumford's high point is the 22 possession game against Keppler Bradley (LOL!) but he has actually been pretty consistent in getting 14-17 possessions per game. Link http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/playe.../senior/season/2010/selected/bio/default.aspx

Again, you need to click on the Stats tab.

I also wonder how much game time Mumford gets in the ruck. He wins a lot of hit outs which could mean he spends a lot of time in the ruck but it could also be a reflection of how the Swans play the game ie., lots of stoppages.

He also had 2 consecutive weeks of over 40 hit outs - against Hawthorn and Essendon (without Hille?). Word of warning - Peter Street once had over 40 hit outs for us in a game too!

It was interesting to read that Blake was panned for his game in the VFL a couple of weeks back where he had 11 possessions and 19 hit outs. Not flattering at all, really. But perhaps this needs to be considered in light of the fact that West and Simpson were also playing that game and would have spent a reasonable amount of time on the ball. If Blake only spent 50-60% of game time actually on the ground then 11 possessions and 19 hit outs is not necessarily so bad.

Just a thought.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I heard a strong rumour from someone who is close to Mark Blake told me that Blake could walk at the end of the year!!

Is not hindisight a wonderful thing?

Shane Mumford is doing everything right for a ruckman. He has a ruck coach at Sydney (former Essendon and Sydney Swans Ruckman Stephen Taubert) who mentors him on tap work and around the ground work.

Down at Geelong, we have not got a ruck coach. We never had a ruck coach since Damian Bourke in 2004.

Apart from Brad Ottens, I think our ruck stocks are not of a high quality. When is Neil Balme going to hire a ruck coach at Geelong? There is a former 300 game champion who resides at the Docklands; he has a morning spot with Steve Price at MTR from 9am to 9:30am and he would be willing to mentor our young ruckman at the Football Club for nothing.

This Geelong legend went on radio last year and communicated the importance of all past players to turn up to the 150th GFC celebrations along the Geelong Waterfront!! He would help out the club for nothing because he realises that his 300 game career at Geelong gave him a media career!!

His name is Sam Newman!!

THE GOVERNOR

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Not the same Sam Newman who complains about going to Geelong's "pissy little functions", and jumps off the club when they are not winning?

 

[The Fourth Son]

The recruiters are taking a look at former star junior basketballer Joshua Jenkins. He is the new-age ruckman with the ability to play at ground level, run & use the ball instead of always giving a handpass. New clubs looking at him too as he is 21 & already a mature body

 

[d_henderson1810]

man l wish mummy was still here.mummy has turned into a gun number one ruckman blake and spud fraser are only good backup's.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

i want my mummy!

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I have no idea either but now I like your tone. Does anyone KNOW the truth? Didn't Geelong have to decide financially between keeping a past-his-best or a potential? We gave King to St.Kilda for zilch because of salary cap. You really think Blake at 21 had the power to make Geelong do that? I for one was really pissed off we gave King to one of our major rivals. As it has turned out King has in no way hurt us whilst at St. Kilda.

King may be past his prime, but most ratings I've seen have him better performed since then than Blake. So we lost on that deal. They signed up Blake, and I remember there was a big hoo hah about him leaving. I remember the dark glasses he was wearing and the displeased smirk he carried around during the grand final, it made him look like he was at a funeral. It was easy to see he was more than a little pissed. I got the distinct feeling that there is a lot of entitlement in Blake's makeup. I recall the reports that there was a few post grand final functions he stayed away from in '07. Then eventually after all that he signed. Almost straight away King was offered a Clayton's contract they then withdrew before King could say yes or no and off he gets sent to the Saints. King shouldn't complain, though. He gets two premierships in a week at Catland, and then the Saints won the pre-season one in 09 (or was it 08). And Blake should consider himself very lucky. The only loser is the Geelong footy team.

 

[Beth]

The general concensus on Blake seems to be "shit bloke, average to good tap ruckman". Well maybe that's my poorly formed opinion. Does anyone actually know the bloke.? Are we pulling these opinions from the Addy and the Scum? (I must admit I am!) Or is it true, does Daddy hang around the club making sure Jnr gets looked after?

Its rare in these successful times to see one of our guys cause so much vitriol and division. Anyway please excuse my stream of consciousness and carry on arguing!

 

[David the Cat]

King may be past his prime, but most ratings I've seen have him better performed since then than Blake. So we lost on that deal. They signed up Blake, and I remember there was a big hoo hah about him leaving. I remember the dark glasses he was wearing and the displeased smirk he carried around during the grand final, it made him look like he was at a funeral. It was easy to see he was more than a little pissed. I got the distinct feeling that there is a lot of entitlement in Blake's makeup. I recall the reports that there was a few post grand final functions he stayed away from in '07. Then eventually after all that he signed. Almost straight away King was offered a Clayton's contract they then withdrew before King could say yes or no and off he gets sent to the Saints. King shouldn't complain, though. He gets two premierships in a week at Catland, and then the Saints won the pre-season one in 09 (or was it 08). And Blake should consider himself very lucky. The only loser is the Geelong footy team.

Have to disagree. Cant see where we lost on trading Steven King. Maybe we see different stats but Steven hasnt set the world on fire at St Kilda and was struggling to hold his place earlier this year.. His body is also breaking down and I doubt he will be playing again next year.

Blake hasnt been consistent but has played some good games and has been wonderfully resilient. He plays week after week and has generally played his role. Yes, I agree he needs to do more around the ground in most games, and it would be good to see him taking contested grabs and kicking goals.

Blake was much more effective than Steven King in last years GF. Some have short memories.

 

[CF]

Its rare in these successful times to see one of our guys cause so much vitriol and division. Anyway please excuse my stream of consciousness and carry on arguing!

you're kidding right? Byrnes was once constantly bagged on this site. Stokes, Ling, and Lonergan have copped more than enough hatred at times.

Blake is a good to excellent tap ruckman, as for his personality I don't know him so I cannot answer that but I do recall Jimmy Bartel saying in an article earlier this year that everyone in the team gets along fine. He also went on to say how "fans" often want to talk negatively about "certain players" and that really cheeses him off.

I find it laughable that anonymous people can sit back and judge a blokes personality when they don't even know him.