FORMER CAT IN SHOCK BLUES DEBUT
BLAKE BLOWS COVER WITH HUGE 10-GOAL HAUL
games out of him, we might get three years out of him, we’re not sure yet.”
Keen to keep the first-up appearance under wraps, Blake was not named in the side on Thursday night and his clearance only went through hours before the game.
But as the goals continued to flow, his cover was quickly blown.
Forssman said the amount of games Blake played would depend on how his 32-year-old body responded to the rigours of playing again.
He has also assured Blake there is no pressure to perform miracles.
“He came to training during ing the week and said he was keen en to play but that he doesn’t want t to let anyone down, like if he was as to get injured,” Forssman said.
“And I said, ‘It’s not about t that, we’re happy to get you back out there, no stress, just enjoy it’, so that’s the way we’ll play it.”
Blake has proven himself to be a standout local footballer post his AFL career, winning the Goulburn league’s best-and-fairest award ard in 2012 after a dominant season son with Mooroopna; before winning nning the Essendon District Football all League’s Dick Reynolds Medal in 2014 at Aberfeldie.
Blake’s link to Winchelsea came through Blues assistant coach Paul Listro, who is friends with the former Cat.
Forssman said Blake’s role in the side over the rest of the season remained fluid.
“We’ve got about eight blokes to come back into the side, so positional changes will keep changing every week,” he said. “We want to ease him back into footy, so I don’t think he will be playing in the ruck for the next few weeks. Obviously he did some ruck in the forward 50, so he’ll run there and we’ll go from there. We’ve still got quite a few key position players to come back into the team.
“He did a fair bit of the preseason at Ocean Grove prior to Christmas, so his fitness base is OK. But like I said, we’re not expecting him to run marathons or anything.
“We’ll just do what we can to help him out and then hopefully in the next few weeks he’s happy to push into the ruck for a little bit, potentially, and we’ll go from there.”