Toast Blake and Wojcinski

[Turbocat]

Wojos best game since I don't know when. Good you mate , shut me and a few others up. But thats the level you have play to as one the mature players in our side if you want to keep one of the young guys out.

Blake is very much a Fire and Ice type guy. Take the Fire he can ignite , with chill he can give one when he has to do anything that involves play around the ground. Love him,hate him unless get someone obvious talent I cant see him being be replaced. "Big Donkey" looked good in Freo but unless Mark gets injured I cant see him getting a prolonged run, anytime soon.
What will determine his future will be how quickly the new wave of tall midfielders take over from traditional Ruckmen. But for now , let the Fire roar on let the Ice be rarely seen!

 

[kickazz]

What I like at the moment is that the Cats are starting to use Blake as an option around the ground, instead of completely ignoring him.

Whilst he may not often be a favoured option, by NEVER going to him you play into the opponent's hands a bit - they know they do not have to be accountable.

Now opposition ruckmen will have to actually think about what their opponent (Blake) is doing.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

What I like at the moment is that the Cats are starting to use Blake as an option around the ground, instead of completely ignoring him.

Whilst he may not often be a favoured option, by NEVER going to him you play into the opponent's hands a bit - they know they do not have to be accountable.

Now opposition ruckmen will have to actually think about what their opponent (Blake) is doing.

So that's why they break out laughing in the middle of the field sometimes.

 

[Frappe]

Rubbish - thought Blake battled hard to nullify Sandliands effectiveness in the hit-outs.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

Yeah 37 hitouts, many straight down blokes like Pav's throat - Blake was unreal stopping him.

FFS the reason we couldn't beat them was because we couldn't get our hands on the ball when we needed to. Sandilands was awesome.

 

[Junk Time]

What I like at the moment is that the Cats are starting to use Blake as an option around the ground, instead of completely ignoring him.

Whilst he may not often be a favoured option, by NEVER going to him you play into the opponent's hands a bit - they know they do not have to be accountable.

Now opposition ruckmen will have to actually think about what their opponent (Blake) is doing.

Mark Blake is the last person the opposition would think about - zoning-off and stopping the stable of some of the best mid-fielders (and their delivery) the game has seen allows Blake to get a plethora space on the ground... If I was coaching an opposition side, I would be wrapped to see the ball in Blake's hands, a loopy 5-6 meter backwards handpass putting someone under pressure is the best result one could hope for I would have thought.

 

[BarryG]

Just reading the AFL website and Luke Darcy has written a piece about ruckwork and how Nic Nak may force a few to have to step. This is what he wrote about Geelong which some of you may find interesting:

GEELONG CATS
Brad Ottens is one of my favourite ruckmen and was always a tough opponent because he's exceptionally strong and he can go forward. Trent West and Dawson Simpson need to add other parts to their games. Mark Blake is solid but if it came to selection in a final, I'd be tempted to pick Tom Hawkins to play in the ruck - provided Podsiadly continues to shine.

 

[meto]

Mark Blake is the last person the opposition would think about - zoning-off and stopping the stable of some of the best mid-fielders (and their delivery) the game has seen allows Blake to get a plethora space on the ground... If I was coaching an opposition side, I would be wrapped to see the ball in Blake's hands, a loopy 5-6 meter backwards handpass putting someone under pressure is the best result one could hope for I would have thought.

Half his work apart from tapping to advantage is screening our mids, so they can get a kick, you just don't understand do you!

 

[Turbocat]

Half his work apart from tapping to advantage is screening our mids, so they can get a kick, you just don't understand do you!

metro , did you hear Mark Neelds comments on the Blake HitZone?
IMO, It was interesting , in that one its showed what someone inside the heart of a club like the Pies think and two it showed that Neeld as someone that might be worth looking at bringing home.
Looking at that goal that Tredrae snapped in Q1 , I wonder if Mark could have put the ball more the boundary rather than drop it goal side.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

metro , did you hear Mark Neelds comments on the Blake HitZone?
IMO, It was interesting , in that one its showed what someone inside the heart of a club like the Pies think and two it showed that Neeld as someone that might be worth looking at bringing home.
Looking at that goal that Tredrae snapped in Q1 , I wonder if Mark could have put the ball more the boundary rather than drop it goal side.

Straight down his throat - couldn't have done it better if he was hitting it to Chappy or Gaz.

 

[Vdubs]

Just reading the AFL website and Luke Darcy has written a piece about ruckwork and how Nic Nak may force a few to have to step. This is what he wrote about Geelong which some of you may find interesting:

GEELONG CATS
Brad Ottens is one of my favourite ruckmen and was always a tough opponent because he's exceptionally strong and he can go forward. Trent West and Dawson Simpson need to add other parts to their games. Mark Blake is solid but if it came to selection in a final, I'd be tempted to pick Tom Hawkins to play in the ruck - provided Podsiadly continues to shine.

Darcy is working secretly to undermine us to help Dogs. Blake rucks, Tomahawk stays forward, we beat Dogs. FULL STOP.

 

[Catsace]

Ruckman take time to develop, always have generally. Blake IS a very good tap-out specialist who statistically gives Geelong's midfielders a better than average chance at getting first possession. I still think about how his father took until he was about 28 before really hitting his straps, but Blake Sr's 'breakout' in 1980 was a significant reason for Geelong being a strong side in 1980-81.

I reckon Geelong have it pretty right with how we have our ruckmen. Ottens hopefully has a couple of years left, so the likes of either West, Simpson can hopefully get to where Blake is now, and Vardy can develop as well. WE all know Blake is not exactly a gazelle around the ground and has his limitations with speedy disposal, but for the structure of Geelong's side he is important for the team.

 

[Turbocat]

Ruckman take time to develop, always have generally. Blake IS a very good tap-out specialist who statistically gives Geelong's midfielders a better than average chance at getting first possession. I still think about how his father took until he was about 28 before really hitting his straps, but Blake Sr's 'breakout' in 1980 was a significant reason for Geelong being a strong side in 1980-81.

I reckon Geelong have it pretty right with how we have our ruckmen. Ottens hopefully has a couple of years left, so the likes of either West, Simpson can hopefully get to where Blake is now, and Vardy can develop as well. WE all know Blake is not exactly a gazelle around the ground and has his limitations with speedy disposal, but for the structure of Geelong's side he is important for the team.

Concede all that but the game is a lot different to what it was like in the 80's or 70's or 60's for that matter. Would Rod Blake at his best be a better than ordinary Ruckman now? In fact I doubt if Polly Farmer would be a Ruckman now.But give them their due they were absolute keys players in their time.
The question is whether MB can be anything more than serviceable. Im not convinced.

I can see us doing another Ottens at some stage in the future , if they feel our guys are fair way off the really good Ruckmen in the AFL. West will be gone at years end, Ottens is not that far off the end probably the next two years or so, I think will look to support our mids with more class in the Ruck

Maybe Cox will get sick of being upstaged by NicNat , Essendon have Ryder also apparently have another Daniher is coming up and is 202cm could be Hille looks elsewhere. I don't know who and it wont be this year but as Playfair, Kingsley etc found out you only get so long to improve before its game over.

 

[Vdubs]

Ruckman take time to develop, always have generally. Blake IS a very good tap-out specialist who statistically gives Geelong's midfielders a better than average chance at getting first possession. I still think about how his father took until he was about 28 before really hitting his straps, but Blake Sr's 'breakout' in 1980 was a significant reason for Geelong being a strong side in 1980-81.

I reckon Geelong have it pretty right with how we have our ruckmen. Ottens hopefully has a couple of years left, so the likes of either West, Simpson can hopefully get to where Blake is now, and Vardy can develop as well. WE all know Blake is not exactly a gazelle around the ground and has his limitations with speedy disposal, but for the structure of Geelong's side he is important for the team.

Agree with all points. Blake snr has repeatedly said Mark is ahead of him relatively speaking, and I for one already like Mark's output, so if he keeps improving a little each year, we'll have a classic.

 

[meto]

Saints duo King and Gardiner had 6+7 possessions last night.
On the other hand Mumford for Sydney had 14, in a big winning game.

I'm interested to see Blake's results tommorrow against quality opposition!

 

[tiredcat]

Saints duo King and Gardiner had 6+7 possessions last night.
On the other hand Mumford for Sydney had 14, in a big winning game.

I'm interested to see Blake's results tomorrow against quality opposition!

From the bolded comment the inference is that Brogan last week lay down and provided no opposition to Ottens/Blake.

In last nights Port game King (16) and Gardiner (10) had 26 hitouts between them while Brogan rucking basically alone had 26.

In the Sydney game most of Mumys disposals came in the last quarter in a game where Sydney dominated in all but the ruck.

Cox (27) assisted by Side Show Bob (14) had 41 hitouts compared to Mumy (18) and Seaby (10) equals 28 hitouts for Sydney.

What does it all mean?. Going by stats alone means little and you just have to work with the strengths you have and try and cover the weaknesses. Its a team game.

 

[BarryG]

Blake -3 dreamteam points at 1/4 time. Haha.

 

[BigBadCam]

Blake -3 dreamteam points at 1/4 time. Haha.

Too many passengers today.

 

[thrillhouse]

Too many passengers today.

I agree.

 

[goodoldcats]

Blake -3 dreamteam points at 1/4 time. Haha.

All the Blake love here is sickening. Try and name a worst player in the afl. I certainly can't

 

[Greg Brady]

Never should Mark Blake be toasted on this board. Who cares who his father is, Mark is horrendous.
Wojo was great today, Mark was a peice of s**t and has never played a good game in his life.
God i cant stand him.

gb