Time for Rhys to stand tall

NO matter whether you believe Rhys Stanley or Zac Smith is the better ruckman, most Geelong supporters would share the view the right decision has been made this week to bring in a recognised ruck to allow Mark Blicavs to move back into defence.

This is not a shot at Blicavs, who was one of his team’s better players two weeks ago against North Melbourne against Todd Goldstein.

But for the Cats to give themselves the best opportunity of success in finals, the 2018 Carji Greeves medallist needs to be playing in the backline.

Granted, the Kangaroos managed only one goal against Geelong a fortnight back, and small forward Charlie Cameron kicked half of his team’s 10 majors for the Lions in the one-point win at the Gabba last Saturday, so it is not as though Matthew Scarlett’s team of key defenders has struggled without Blicavs.

But this is a proactive move before what could and should be a lengthy finals campaign.

It is a move designed to ensure the balance of the side is adjusted now rather than in another two or three weeks when it might be too late.

As Chris Scott said earlier this week, Blicavs has been in All-Australian form this year, and while it is true his versatility is one of his major strengths, for the good of the side it is a welcome change to see the Cats have opted for someone who has played 15 games in the ruck at AFL level in 2019 and on the weight of the evidence available is seemingly the best option.

“Where we are right at the moment is we have all of our ruckmen available and all of them have played at AFL