Blicavs mounts case for defence

HAVING been a virtual byword for versatility in previous years, Mark Blicavs is relishing the stability of his new role at Geelong as a key defender.

The former steeplechaser won the Cats’ best-and-fairest award in 2015 as a mobile ruckman.

He has also spent time as a gut-running winger and an occasional forward.

But with Lachie Henderson and Harry Taylor absent for much of the 2018 AFL campaign due to injury, an opportunity opened up in the back half, one the 198cm, 100kg Blicavs grasped with both hands.

Henderson will play his first senior match of the year against Melbourne tonight after finally overcoming a knee injury, while two-time AllAustralian Taylor (foot) is expected back in the next few weeks.

But even when coach Chris Scott has a full complement of defenders to choose from, Blicavs seems set to continue in the role he has made his own.

Tonight at GMHBA Stadium, that will mean spending time negating both of the Demons’ in-form tall forwards in Jesse Hogan and Tom McDonald.

“It’s been really good for me to stay in a similar position each week rather than changing roles all the time,” Blicavs said.

“I still think it’s a strength of mine that if someone goes down early in the game, I am versatile enough to move positions.

“But personally it’s helped me to stay back there for a number of weeks and I really enjoy it.

“I have an opponent or two who my focus is on.”

Blicavs earned a five-year contract extension in May taking him through until 2023 — a deal that was testament to his durability as much as his playing ability.

“I only started playing football at 21 and I’m 27 now so I’ve only had six years of the bashand-crash footy lifestyle,” he said. “If you look at my record of games missed through injury, it’s not many.

“I think the club feels that my body will be able to handle it, that I’ll be able to stand up over the next five years.”

Tonight’s clash between the sixth-placed Demons and the eighth-ranked Cats is one of several this weekend that will shape the finals race. In Geelong’s favour is that four of its remaining six games are at GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats have dropped young tall Wylie Buzza, meaning Henderson may be asked to pinch-hit up forward in support of Tom Hawkins.

It’s a role Taylor has also filled with some success in the past couple of years and could do again on his return.

The Demons suffered a blow this week when 2017 AllAustralian defender Michael Hibberd hurt his quad at training.