‘Competitive beasts’ up to Giant Greene task
GEELONG utility Mark Blicavs is backing in his “competitive beasts” in defence to blanket GWS superstar Toby Greene on Saturday.
Returning from his lengthy suspension in the past two weeks, Greene has brought his trademark flair to the Giants’ forward line and was outstanding in setting up a big win over Adelaide last weekend.
The GWS co-captain has a good record against the Cats, having kicked 15 goals in eight games against them.
Blicavs, who will spend time in defence and on the ball against the Giants, said defenders could get sucked in to worrying about an individual threat such as Greene but Geelong’s defensive system could hold off his influence.
“That can happen but you need to try to back your team in,” the big Cat said.
“We have a bit of a team defence system, so hopefully we can win the ball back before it gets anywhere near Toby but we have some good players down there. Tommy Atkins, Jed Bews, Mark O’Connor, they are all competitive beasts who don’t like to lose.
“As good as Toby is, we back our system and those guys. We want to take him head on and if Toby gets the ball we are hopefully right there to pressure and tackle him, and curb his influence as best we can.”
Geelong has been consistent in its messaging that it will not take the Giants lightly on Saturday, despite their 2-5 record. Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Chris Scott have spoken publicly in saying GWS is better than its record and Blicavs said he, too, was expecting a tough battle from the men in orange.
“They have a good system and some very dangerous players,” he said. “I would like to think that, as a club, we don’t take any club lightly and the Giants are no exception.”