BLITZ FINDS HIS FLOW
IT may look like he is being thrown around the field as Mark Blicavs floats between defence, the midfield and even pinch-hitting in attack, but the experienced Cat says he has found his flow in a strong start to the season.
A two-time Carji Greeves medallist, Blicavs has folded back into his typical team-first style this season and played an excellent under-the-radar first seven games.
Rarely among the very best players on the ground, the 31year-old has regularly been in Geelong’s best as a reliable Mr Fix-it, starting at full-back before chipping into help Rhys Stanley in the ruck.
He was again solid in his usual roles against Fremantle and added in two goals, including a bomb from outside the 50m arc to give Geelong hope before it ultimately fell three points short.
The Cats leader said while it may look to those in the stands like he is constantly on the move between positions, he has bedded down his plan for each game.
“I am enjoying that role of getting to a few different positions and I am sort of getting that flow going,” he said.
“It might not seem consistent but to me, I have that consistent role as a back-half player, trying to play that defender role when I can and also when needed through the middle and the ruck as well.
“On the outside it might look like I am getting thrown around a little bit but I feel like I have got some consistency in those roles, which I am really enjoying.”
Typically in modern footy, a second ruckman comes from a second or third tall forward, allowing the forward to push into the midfield and not create worrisome defensive match-ups.
I AM ENJOYING THAT ROLE OF GETTING TO A FEW DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND I AM SORT OF GETTING THAT FLOW GOING.
But with Geelong’s adaptable defensive structure, and the emergence of young tall Sam De Koning, Blicavs jogs out of defence towards midfield knowing the men behind him can hold up the backline.
“One thing that has been great is obviously Sammy De Koning being back there, he is so tall, he is a monster,” Blicavs said.
“He is learning the game really quickly and starting to play some good football.
“As much as that is helping his own game, being able to take some of the tall guys is one of the factors that are helping me go from defence to that ruck spot.”