Toast Mark Blicavs

[Deep North]

Only 11 disposals tonight, but at 100% efficiency!!

He has had a cracking start to the season, has started to earn his spot. I don't mean by having no one else or just getting some development into him, I mean being a genuine top 22 player. If he can play seven games this season CS will be be very happy. Liked the fact we ran him off the wing in parts tonight, could be very damaging in a season or two.

Its great to have a genuine surprise packet so early. I, for one, gave him no chance, I'm generally not into the whole athlete retrained as footballer malarky, but this bloke could be special

 

[Catdog]

I take my hat off to him!

Solid performances so far in a hostile environment.

!00% thats impressive

 

[Stig_90]

I wasn't sure about Blicavs until now, but after tonight's game I'm convinced he belongs out there. For a big bloke with his history who's played just three games, he's pretty damn impressive.

 

[Menzelevium]

He's got some good footy smarts for someone with so little experience. The effort against Armfield (?) on the wing was great.

 

[thecatattack]

I'm really liking Blicavs start to his career. He can only get better also.

 

[CatAttack84]

Remembering this guy's background, tonight was he was a gun!!!! Carlton supporters near me couldn't believe he was a guy who hadn't grown up playing footy after the age of 14. I recall one moment maybe 3rd quarter through legal bumps he tok out two Blues players. Fantastic stuff from the young man.

 

[Skerret]

He's not just an athlete, some of his ball skills were very impressive. Not awkward in the slightest, has great balance and disposes of the ball cleanly. Might just be a natural. Get his marking sorted and he'll be real trouble.

 

[Strangled Cat]

I was very impressed with him tonight, he played very well. He is improving exponentially.

 

[cats_09]

one of the things that has impressed me most watching Blicavs over these first 3 games is that he doesn't panic when he gets the ball, he actually seems to have plenty of time when he does get the ball and he assess the situation to look for the best option rather than just throwing the footy on the boot or handballing to the first teammate he sees.
During the 2nd qtr tonight, one of Blicavs efforts on the wing lead to a Geelong goal (can't remember who ended up snapping the goal), but as soon as the goal was kicked, Enright acknowledged the efforts of Blicavs and actually ran from basically the defensive 50m line to pat him on the back for his work and I thought it was great to see that acknowledgement from one of his teammates and not just a pat on the back for the goal kicker.
Still got a lot to learn and a heap of improvement in him, but he doesn't look totally out of place at the moment and is offering a bit the team.

 

[Grizzly_82]

Doesn't panic, has footy smarts, fantastic disposal....

You sure he hasn't played the game his whole life?

Fantastic start to the career and will be a monster once he adds more weight... Plus his speed

Need a statue of wells outside KP ASAP

 

[footscore]

again, started off slowly but with that incredible tank of his, was finding the footy when others were tiring.
Very good contributor tonight.

 

[cats_09]

Doesn't panic, has footy smarts, fantastic disposal....

You sure he hasn't played the game his whole life?

Fantastic start to the career and will be a monster once he adds more weight... Plus his speed

Need a statue of wells outside KP ASAP

Wells can't take all the credit this time, it was Guthrie's dad who had a word to Wells and suggested he have a look at the Blicavs.

Guthrie dredged up that memory in February 2011, when the Cats organised a lunch for the parents of new boys who were selected in the NAB Cup side to play North Melbourne at Geelong.
Guthrie told Cats' recruiting manager Stephen Wells that Blicavs may be a player worth watching. Wells liked what he saw, offering Blicavs a rookie contract in November 2011, and presenting Blicavs with a dilemma: drop a promising athletics career as a 1500m and steeplechase runner or give AFL footy a crack.

So considering at the time of the suggestion Guthrie was yet to debut for Geelong, that shows a high level of respect for Guthrie & his parents that Wells didn't just say thanks just to be polite and ignore things, but followed through on looking at Blicavs, which in turn ended up with the offer of a rookie spot.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/tea...eat-leap-forward/story-e6frf9lo-1226609927980

 

[Grizzly_82]

**** I love this club more after reading that

 

[hamG]

He has been amazing. Straight up he can be a best 22 player even without playing in the ruck. Nightmare matchup.

 

[J Squad]

Blitzy is the 4th dimension, an incredible athlete with footy smarts who is as tall as a giraffe and as fast as a gazelle. His effort to corale Lucas and force a turn over was outstanding. He was a nightmare for Mick to match him up as they are too short aftwr Kreuz went down. I have watched all 3 of his games live and he is seriously improving each game

 

[Moggy]

The other thing to remember is that he has lined up against Hawthorn, NM and Carlton. That is no cushy line-up!
Loving the Blitz!

 

[oozeboss]

I'll be smug here and say that I was a believer from when we first got him, but he's miles ahead of where I thought he'd be right now.

Our Norwegian colleague is spot on in pointing out that his debut has been a trial by fire, and as impressive as his physical gifts are, his intelligence and courage are peerless.

The recruiting and nurturing of this gem of a player are also reasons why I love the intelligence and vision of our club.

 

[Moggy]

I'll be smug here and say that I was a believer from when we first got him, but he's miles ahead of where I thought he'd be right now.

Our Norwegian colleague is spot on in pointing out that his debut has been a trial by fire, and as impressive as his physical gifts are, his intelligence and courage are peerless.

The recruiting and nurturing of this gem of a player are also reasons why I love the intelligence and vision of our club.

expat, actually, but everything else is accurate

 

[Boxhead_31]

Loved the big guys game last night.

Noted than when pressed to his non dominate side he wasn't afraid to put it on the left boot and made really good contact with the ball and completed the pass to Hawkins.

And that effort against Lucas on the wing/flank was as good as it gets for a big man matched up against a smaller quicker opponent corralled him then pressed in for the tackle and forced the turnover, fantastic effort.

He seems to have that ability to have time and space that a lot of people with basketball in their background have, the effort when Robinson bumped him in the middle and he was still able to find a target by hand as he was going to ground was great.

If this is Blitz after 10 games from u/14 can't wait to see what he is going to be like after he has 50 AFL games under his belt.

Balmey go to him now and let him know that he will be placed onto the senior list next year so that no other clubs can get the chance to whisper into his ear

 

[Claude Balls]

Love that he is confident and wants the ball. And playing footy till he was 14 has clearly given him some natural skills, unlike guys who come to the sport for the first time when they are late teenagers etc.

 

[meto]

So impressive with his attack on the ball and fearless mentality for a non-footballer??

 

[THE CAT WRANGLER]

Great recruiting and lateral thinking by Wellsy

 

[cynical]

Been really good, his footy smarts are a lot better than expected.

Once the rucks come back he will go back to VFL but has a real shot at being a tall wing/emergency ruck in the next few years.

 

[Turkey Tom]

I think he is getting better every game! Last week I thought there were a few times when he got the ball he hesitated on what option to use. This week he seemed to take the first option.

Well known part of his story now - Cam Guthrie's father is the person that highlighted him to the club.

 

[vealesy]

Could become an all time great. Seriously.

Who can match up on him all game?

Never mind his ruckwork, hes a bloody handy flanker.

The most impressive debutant since our current captain.

Big statements, big potential.