News Mark Blicavs

[Partridge]

At the very least , he broke even in taps to advantage. Is he good enough to in best 22 with all fit? Well No. Vardy is way ahead but Vardy is also far more like glass. To be a legit part of the 22, he needs to be influential up forward. One advantage I doubt he would unbalance our forwardline with Pods /Hawkins there. He is the epitome of a mobile tall

Blicavs is not a legit part of our best 32, let's get that straight. It's very encouraging, but like Thurlow and Hamling and Eardley he needs a lot more time to develop. His athleticism as expected is terrific, but he needs more than that to have a hope of competing at senior level with far heavier opposition. And do it every week too.

 

[cynical]

I'd be happy if he doesn't play AFL this year.

As an emergency ruck option he looks better than Walkers effort last year.

But really nobody wants to see an emergency ruck option playing when we have West, Vardy and HMac.

Probably still 2 years off being a genuine AFL player but he showed a bit.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I don't think he's any real chance of playing round 1, as we'll hopefully have some combination of West/Vardy/Walker available. Still quite raw and not ready for senior footy, but definitely looks promising.

 

[dazbroncos]

I have been pumping him up since last year and his performance today was very encouraging. Give him a full season this year and another pre season and we could have something special on our hands.

Me too... i got his tyre treads all over my lip from pumping him up last year too... A few of the VFL threads... He put his hand up back then and I was a tiket holder....

Still a long way to go, but he has got that kind of Otto followup and get after the contest that i like. Not saying he is Otto or anything daft like that but his follow up work was impressive for 5 games since under 14's....

On anotehr note, how bent will the rest of them be if we go from Otto to Blitz being a successful ruck with the new ruck rules.... They will go fully sideways.... Luv it!

Go Catters

 

[rocker_oz33]

It was the first time i seen him play yesterday he looks like a good prospect.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

What were his running patterns like?
He seemed to get to a lot of contests at both ends of the ground fairly quickly - as you would expect from such a gifted athlete. He does have a long way to go but with his skillset and appetite for the contest he has the capabilities to succeed.
I see him as a Barnes type providing a link across the middle and having the ability to cover ground quickly to ruck contests. The forwardline mark and goal was very encouraging as was his prodigious leap.

 

[jazzee]

What were his running patterns like?

At the end of quarters he was catching the opposition out, imagine consistently having an extra tall in your defence or attack because of their fitness / pace. No other ruck in the comp could keep up.

A lot of people are saying the new rule change is helping him out a bit, I think I understand why but could someone go into a bit more detail on exactly how it benefits him?

 

[Boxhead_31]

At the end of quarters he was catching the opposition out, imagine consistently having an extra tall in your defence or attack because of their fitness / pace. No other ruck in the comp could keep up.

A lot of people are saying the new rule change is helping him out a bit, I think I understand why but could someone go into a bit more detail on exactly how it benefits him?

As the ruckmen have to stay 1m apart before the umpire throws the ball in or up it means he wont get monstered before the contest begins, and as the umpires will throw the ball up around the ground it means that the rucks have to be quick over the ground to make the contest as the throw up will see less time taken to get to the contest meaning that players who are fit and good runners should benefit from the rule changes

 

[FredLeDeux]

As the ruckmen have to stay 1m apart before the umpire throws the ball in or up it means he wont get monstered before the contest begins, and as the umpires will throw the ball up around the ground it means that the rucks have to be quick over the ground to make the contest as the throw up will see less time taken to get to the contest meaning that players who are fit and good runners should benefit from the rule changes

All of which, of course, should mainly benefit West and (if he rucks) Vardy, possibly be neutral for McIntosh, and probably disadvantage Simpson, because it gives athletic players the chance to use their leap before they are scragged.

 

[Hoffy95]

Still miles off.

All things considered though he's come on nicely and given our luck with ruck injuries might have to play a senior game or two.

 

[candiehappy]

All of which, of course, should mainly benefit West and (if he rucks) Vardy, possibly be neutral for McIntosh, and probably disadvantage Simpson, because it gives athletic players the chance to use their leap before they are scragged.

this rule change wouldn't have gone well for Mick Nolan

 

[winty]

Still miles off.

All things considered though he's come on nicely and given our luck with ruck injuries might have to play a senior game or two.

Maybe so, but he's miles closer to where he should be than he was this time last year.

 

[candiehappy]

Maybe so, but he's miles closer to where he should be than he was this time last year.

he's obviously such a natural athlete than one full season in the magoo's, plus a couple of senior games, might well see him in contention next year.

 

[newcs]

Looks like he has made the grade big time.
He has received the ultimate compliment, a grilling by on of our favourite Hawthorn Bay 13 posters.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/blicavs-lol-geelong.992002/

 

[HappyChappy35]

Like the look of him, but the only real chance I think he has of playing this season if our ruck department is troubled with injuries. Given the prominence of the West/Vardy/McIntosh combination and the fact he will take time to develop, he probably won't receive an immediate opportunity to play a big part in our ruck division.

Not to say that in 3-4 years he can't be a valuable part of our best 22. Definitely has the qualities in him to become an exciting player- really liked his athleticism, appetite for the footy, and ability to catch opponents out against the Crows. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come for him.

 

[Moggy]

Apologies if this has already been posted, but here is an entertaining interview with Blicavs after the Adelaide NAB 2 game.

http://www.geelongcats.com.au/video/2013-03-02/nab-rd-2-post-match-mark-blicavs

 

[The Casey Cat]

As the ruckmen have to stay 1m apart before the umpire throws the ball in or up it means he wont get monstered before the contest begins, and as the umpires will throw the ball up around the ground it means that the rucks have to be quick over the ground to make the contest as the throw up will see less time taken to get to the contest meaning that players who are fit and good runners should benefit from the rule changes

Yikes. As if Nick Nat needed more help. With his standing (or running) vertical and these rules he will never lose a hit out again in his career unless maybe Daw gets a game against him but even he will give up height and reach.

 

[AM]

A piece focussed on Blicavs in today's Age.

http://is.gd/7WVrEC

 

[meto]

Stay with him he'll get the hang of it, then he'll kick arse!

 

[hbk_aus]

Kicked a really good snap goal in the 2nd qtr today. Obviously struggling in stoppages against Jollys size but showing really good signs around the ground.

 

[vinum coupe]

Still miles off.

All things considered though he's come on nicely and given our luck with ruck injuries might have to play a senior game or two.

For him to finish in our bests today is massive

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Would be phenomenal if he could bring a similar performance into main season. Watched him live against Roos and he still looked like he had a long way to go.....hope people aren't viewing through rose coloured glasses.

But boy is he exiting based on how quickly he has already adapted!

 

[manboob]

But boy is he exiting based on how quickly he has already adapted!

On a scale of zero to big kev where does he sit?

 

[Turbocat]

Would be phenomenal if he could bring a similar performance into main season. Watched him live against Roos and he still looked like he had a long way to go.....hope people aren't viewing through rose coloured glasses.

But boy is he exiting based on how quickly he has already adapted!

gaz , think we have to be prepared for more up and down from him , than our usual type that have a solid grounding in the juniors an our vfl.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

On a scale of zero to big kev where does he sit?

From what I saw as a player he is well short still....but his development is certainly something to take notice of. Definitely needs more muscle if he is to take a ruck position....gets out bodied most if time.