It's an issue the Cats coach toiled with right throughout the build-up to September, and throughout the club's finals campaign, last year.

And yet, it's where it looks as though Blicavs will stay for this year's finals series. That is vastly different to his numbers in defence, where Blicavs is clearly playing a more pivotal role. Champion Data logs him playing 26 of those games primarily as a key defender, eight games primarily on a wing and six games primarily in the ruck. Share this on Twitter. Instead, Stanley's replacement in Josh Jenkins became the side's main ruck option. The memories of Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch running rampage in front of a packed MCG as a commanding lead and a spot in the 2019 Grand Final slipped from the club's grasp. In many of those categories Blicavs out-ranks Harry Taylor and Jake Kolodjashnij, who spent 71 and 25 minutes respectively on Lynch during last year's preliminary final defeat. It brings certainly a different element to the game.

"I'm just loving it at the moment. He also ranks No.2 for contested ball and clearances. "I think (he could handle it). In the ruck? He wins his own footy on a wing, averaging 8.7 contested possessions and three clearances per 100 minutes in the position, but there is no clear area where Blicavs is Geelong's best wingman. I guess it has given me a bit more free rein to run a bit and play a bit on instinct. Prior to being recruited by Geelong, Blicavs was a middle-distance runner and steeplechaser, who attempted to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The regret of Geelong's painful preliminary final defeat last season, masterminded by Lynch's brilliance on the big stage, still lingers. The value of placing Blicavs on a wing stems from his tank. You can find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out

Break that down into his minutes on the field and Blicavs is spending 68.2 percent of his time as a key defender, 16.5 percent of his time as a ruckman and 13.5 percent of his time as a wingman. You can access more content with Watch AFL. Invalid postcode. The Richmond forward kicked five goals from 19 disposals and 10 marks that night, while he also had 12 score involvements and took four contested grabs to inspire his side's thrilling 40-point second-half turnaround. Blicavs, 21, joined the Cats midway through last year and played four VFL games - the first time he'd pulled on the boots since representing Taylors Lakes in the under-14s. MARK Blicavs is embracing the prospect of playing consecutive games off short breaks as the AFL looks to cram four rounds into just three weeks. The new ruck rule which has outlawed scragging at ball-ups certainly helps the rookie whose outstanding leap is his best weapon. . His ability and his versatility are so strong in so many areas that you're always going to benefit from him in a certain way when played in a certain position. Former steeplechaser Mark Blicavs set for Cats ruck gig. The question of why Blicavs, Geelong's best defensive stopper, wasn't manning Lynch – or why he wasn't sent to him immediately after he'd put a couple of goals on the board – is still fiercely debated. So, on Friday night and during the club's upcoming finals campaign, the Cats will just have to close their eyes and hope the opposition forward, wingman or ruckman not manned by their dual best and fairest winner doesn't win his side the game … as Lynch did last year. Where should Geelong play Mark Blicavs? But whether or not it's where Scott wants Blicavs during the club's upcoming finals campaign is uncertain. Well, those nightmares wouldn't end there. And that's because he is undoubtedly one of, if not Geelong's best down back. When asked if he was ready to carry the ruck load against Hawthorn in Round 1, he said: "Hypothetically if that happened, I versed (Aaron) Sandilands two weeks ago and Jacobs who are two of the best ruckmen in the league in my eyes. "I've found moving into the ruck and doing a bit of work in the midfield has helped (over the past two weeks). "It can't be anymore daunting than that so I'll just take it as it comes . "He's obviously an outstanding athlete, his spring is pretty good, he's a fantastic runner but his game sense and knowledge of how to play the game, for someone who hasn't played footy since U/14s is amazing. The former steeplechaser, who had dreams of representing Australia before giving up his running career last year, more than held his own against Adelaide's Sam Jacobs in yesterday's NAB Cup game to put his hand up for the season-opener. . Sportsbet's Nathan Brown and Michael Wall preview the game between the Cats and the Tigers at Metricon Stadium. Football career Blicavs was recruited by Geelong with draft pick #54 in the 2012 Rookie Draft . By this stage of the 29-year-old's career, you would have to be living under a rock if you didn't know that he used to be an elite steeplechase runner before pursuing an AFL career. I think his game two weeks ago he jumped over Sandilands at his first centre bounce he took and obviously against a quality ruckman today he rucked quite OK. "He and Josh Walker add some midfield depth as well because they don't just ruck, they get after the footy as well, they get after the tackles and contested footy as well. By this stage of the 29-year-old's career, you would have to be living under a rock if you didn't know that he used to be an elite steeplechase runner before pursuing an AFL career. Equally as haunting must be the thought of Mark Blicavs – perhaps the only Cats defender capable of quelling Lynch's influence in such form – stationed on a wing at the time, unable to do anything to stop the mayhem being caused nearby. Assistant coach Blake Caracella said Blicavs' improvement over the summer had surprised everyone. IT MUST still be the main source of nightmares in Geelong.

here. Sorry we couldn't find a match for that, please try again. Otherwise, that 2019 nightmare might become a reality once again. The value of putting Blicavs in the ruck is his ability to play as an extra midfielder, with the athleticism and fitness he displays on a wing easily translating to a more inside role. against the Hawks would be pretty exciting I guess.". Champion Data notes that Blicavs ranks No.1 among the club's 10 key defenders to have played during those 40 games for intercept marks and tackles, No.2 for intercept possessions and ranking points, and No.3 for one-on-one loss rate percentage. The return of the experienced Lachie Henderson in round eight to accompany Taylor, Kolodjashnij and others in defence has played a large part in this change of position. Taken out of the backline to accommodate for Henderson's inclusion, he has played either in the ruck or on the wing since round eight. HE'S played just six games since under-14s but Mark Blicavs has emerged as a wildcard to be Geelong's starting ruckman in Round 1. At 198cm and 100kgs, but with the tank of an endurance athlete, he can do it all. As both Geelong and Richmond prepare to renew hostilities at Metricon Stadium on Friday night, and as the Cats prepare for another finals campaign where a premiership tilt is firmly on the agenda, the question of where best to use Blicavs remains as season-defining now as it was 12 months ago. But his ruck craft is by no means the strongest of Geelong's options, with Blicavs ranking third out of the club's four ruckmen for hitout win percentage and hitout-to-advantage win percentage during this time. Down back? LADDER PREDICTOR Can your team make the eight? All of Geelong's senior-listed ruckmen are on the injury list - Trent West (knee), Dawson Simpson (back), Hamish McIntosh (knee), Nathan Vardy (groin) - which means Blicavs and fellow rookie Josh Walker have had to carry the load in the pre-season. "He has somehow managed to learn at a rapid rate and come along heaps. In a way, Scott was damned if he did play Blicavs in defence and damned if he didn't.

Geelong Guild athlete Ethan Grills is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Mark Blicavs after being crowned the under-16 national steeplechase champion in Sydney. But while Blicavs might be an OK pinch-hit option, there's not much evidence to suggest he should be called upon as the go-to guy for more than the six games where he has already fulfilled that role since the start of 2019. The value of placing Blicavs on a wing stems from his tank. Picture: AFL Photos, Key Crow to return but Tex set for 'last-minute' call, As both Geelong and Richmond prepare to renew hostilities at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.

In recent weeks, Blicavs has been moved out of his key defensive post and has returned to a combination of playing either in the ruck or on a wing. On a wing?

The stats behind his effectiveness on a wing makes it all the more difficult to tell whether it's where he is best suited, either. The beauty of Blicavs is his versatility. Stanley, Darcy Fort, Esava Ratugolea and Blicavs have all had their chances over the last 40 games, without any becoming the consistent and reliable No.1 choice. Geelong has already placed Simpson on the long-term injury list which means they can elevate a rookie onto the main list for Round 1. From 2019, fans will no longer be able to subscribe to AFL Live Pass through the AFL website. "I'm 198cm and for a ruckman that's not that tall and I'm 96kg so for a ruckman that's tiny so I don't want to be trying to body on Jacobs or anything," Blicavs said. It's really good.". Nat Edwards with all the latest Grand Final news, Damian Barrett and Callum Twomey with all the latest Grand Final and trade news, Cats fans get THAT finals feeling as Gary Ablett kicks one of his iconic running…, Brad Ebert has already agreed to pass on his jumper number for next season, Check out the eight-part series exploring the flag journeys of the AFL champions from…, Patrick Dangerfield has no concerns with the health of star teammate, Access All Areas discusses how Geelong will match up on Dustin Martin, and why…, Everything you need to know about the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final, This content is unavailable in your region.



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