Rucks!!!!

[Baby Duck]

Oh dear, some people turn against their own pretty quick.

 

[kicksome]

Oh dear, some people turn against their own pretty quick.

Thats the thing i've never been With them! I've always thought they were duds.
varcoe i was always iffy on, yeah he done some good stuff now and again but just fades away in the contest.
blake doesnt even Look like a footballer, like a giraffe trying to peel an orange

and lonergan, dear me never rated this one, just a sympathy game for his kidney and send this guy back to the magoos when tomohawk is fit.

 

[darren forssman]

Any reason why? Like I stated, it's been tried and it worked. Why hasn't it been tried again?

in a kicking for goal comp between blake and playfair my money would be on playfair. blake's kicking is not his strong point.

 

[worthogs]

in a kicking for goal comp between blake and playfair my money would be on playfair. blake's kicking is not his strong point.

I would too but the biggest problem Hank had is that he could never get the Pill....oh yea when he did he coughed it up like his last one for us against the Rangers at KP in 2007.

Both from the school of Hacks. Chopper Handley is their hero.

 

[Copernicus]

It'll be Otto and Blake. Hopefully Blakey will curb some of that unco-ness and become more influential with the ball in his hands. I'm not expecting Buckley-like precision but he was good most of the year playing link man. He just needs to be more influential in the big games.

I don't think the others have progressed enough to make it in the seniors yet (Mumford and West). Mumford looked very raw indeed the few times I saw him, and I just don't think West has the size.

 

[Redemptionin09]

It'll be Otto and Blake. Hopefully Blakey will curb some of that unco-ness and become more influential with the ball in his hands. I'm not expecting Buckley-like precision but he was good most of the year playing link man. He just needs to be more influential in the big games.

I don't think the others have progressed enough to make it in the seniors yet (Mumford and West). Mumford looked very raw indeed the few times I saw him, and I just don't think West has the size.

That's probably right, although I really think Mumford can be a decent ruckman (just not right now) he really jumps at the ball, that was the one thing the commentators said about him in his first game, it will come with a little time because ruckman take the longest to fully develop.

West on the other hand could be anything, doesn't have the height to hold the ruck spot behind Otto, but is far cleaner in his work around the ground than Blake and probably Mumford. I heard someone post on him some time last year saying, "treat him right and with an amount of care and he could end up like Kouta"

wouldn't that be something.

 

[della]

how can anyone who follows the club think Blake will develop into a good ruckman, i mean people in the inner sanctum know alot of our midfielders just dont trust Blake with the ball in his hands at any stage, he offers us nothing around the ground, never helps out in defence, i think hes just a big liability like lonergan is at full fwd, i mean when have either of them grabbed a game by the scruff in a big match, never, where was blake against the 7 game ruckman in the gf, where was lonergan after croad went off, where were they, pathetic big man, just like the Mensch's, Handleys and playfairs of this world, they r no good pure and simple.

 

[kicksome]

how can anyone who follows the club think Blake will develop into a good ruckman, i mean people in the inner sanctum know alot of our midfielders just dont trust Blake with the ball in his hands at any stage, he offers us nothing around the ground, never helps out in defence, i think hes just a big liability like lonergan is at full fwd, i mean when have either of them grabbed a game by the scruff in a big match, never, where was blake against the 7 game ruckman in the gf, where was lonergan after croad went off, where were they, pathetic big man, just like the Mensch's, Handleys and playfairs of this world, they r no good pure and simple.

amen.
jokes over now guys, quit cheering for blake

 

[Pivo]

West on the other hand could be anything, doesn't have the height to hold the ruck spot behind Otto, but is far cleaner in his work around the ground than Blake and probably Mumford. I heard someone post on him some time last year saying, "treat him right and with an amount of care and he could end up like Kouta"

wouldn't that be something.

That may very well be the biggest call I have read for quite some time. Clearly that individual sees something that I can't...and I like West.

Thinking he could turn into a Kouta-esque player is, well, very, very optimistic.

However, I do agree that his work around the ground lends himself to a position other than ruck.

CHB.

 

[Casey Cat]

Are kicksome, della and varcoe all the same poster or just sharing the same thesaurus?

 

[catempire]

You're being generous mate; I think they need a shorter Oxford each!

 

[Ricketts]

I don't mind Blake as a #2 ruckman. There aren't many good #2 ruckmen in the league.

He's pretty young still also, for a ruckman.

The issue is with Ottens who probably can't play a full season. Will he be rested for games or will there be games where he plays as the #2?

 

[Vdubs]

Watch the Ess game round 2 & watch Blake maul Hille, who was a candidate for 2008 AA team. Blake was better when Otto was out. He needs more game time to get confidence and momentum. He should be no. 1 or 2, depending on Otto's fitness or being on the forward line.

 

[Vdubs]

how can anyone who follows the club think Blake will develop into a good ruckman, i mean people in the inner sanctum know alot of our midfielders just dont trust Blake with the ball in his hands at any stage, he offers us nothing around the ground, never helps out in defence, i think hes just a big liability like lonergan is at full fwd, i mean when have either of them grabbed a game by the scruff in a big match, never, where was blake against the 7 game ruckman in the gf, where was lonergan after croad went off, where were they, pathetic big man, just like the Mensch's, Handleys and playfairs of this world, they r no good pure and simple.

You are forgetting how well Otto & Mooney played in the GF?? That was Blake's and Lonners 1st GF & they had very few role models on the day. I expect bigger & better from them in 09. Give them a break. Again, watch Ess v GEE r2, & see what Blake's true potential is. He would thrive given the no.1 ruck spot

 

[thejester]

We had the best ruck division in the competition last year by a country mile. Why people are desperate to change that for one of two ruckmen who shown the better part of bugger all and are mobile - rather than tap - ruckmen baffles me.

 

[Vdubs]

We had the best ruck division in the competition last year by a country mile. Why people are desperate to change that for one of two ruckmen who shown the better part of bugger all and are mobile - rather than tap - ruckmen baffles me.

AGREE completely

 

[cats2rise]

It will start as Ottens/Blake. Ottens will then get injured, and it will be Blake/West or Blake/Mumford. Then Ottens will come back and it will be Blake/Ottens.

I really think Blake and West will show a bit this year.

 

[NakedDeadGuy]

FWIW, Blakes pretty comparable with these dudes at a similar age (first column). Not saying anything, but I reckon he's gonna be ok.

 

[CF]

FWIW, Blakes pretty comparable with these dudes at a similar age (first column). Not saying anything, but I reckon he's gonna be ok.

exactly right NDG, but some supporters can't see the forest through the trees. Some think that since he doesn't plays like Dean Cox every game, then he must be a dud.

 

[hamG]

I am reasonably sure Blake is being carried by the success of his team mates.

His decent tap work does not hide he is probably the worst natural footballer in the AFL. Although it is off season and my brain is switched off so there could be someone worse and I am happy to hear other nominations.

I hope he proves me wrong but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[cats2rise]

I am reasonably sure Blake is being carried by the success of his team mates.

Yeah, you may be right, but then so is Stokes (Season 2008, held his own in 2007), Lonergon, Enright, Mackie etc.

 

[catempire]

Yeah, you may be right, but then so is Stokes (Season 2008, held his own in 2007), Lonergon, Enright, Mackie etc.

NFI

 

[cats2rise]

NFI

Open your eyes and you know I am right.

He's a good player, but not AA great. Boris is one of my favourite players, but he isnt one of the top 10 players at the club which some people regularly make him out to be.

 

[catempire]

Open your eyes and you know I am right.

He's a good player, but not AA great. Boris is one of my favourite players, but he isnt one of the top 10 players at the club which some people regularly make him out to be.

Bollocks. Not going to waste energy debating this.

 

[thejester]

Open your eyes and you know I am right.

He's a good player, but not AA great. Boris is one of my favourite players, but he isnt one of the top 10 players at the club which some people regularly make him out to be.

Routinely blankets the oppositions best small forward/half forward whilst getting shitloads of it. Easily within the Top 10 at the club and easily Geelong's most underrated player.