Stanley set for return in tag-team ruck blitz
GEELONG ruck Rhys Stanley is expected to return to face a dual St Kilda threat and will continue to tag-team with Mark Blicavs after it has become “obvious” the utility plays his best in the midfield.
Blicavs was thrust into the No.1 ruck duties after Stanley and back-up big Esava Ratugolea both went down with ankle injuries before last weekend’s clash with the GWS Giants and he polled a perfect 10 coaches’ votes.
He will need Stanley’s big body for support this weekend against dominant Saints pair Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall, while Blicavs will also need to help out Sam De Koning’s job in stopping giant forward Max King.
Often thrown around between defence, the wing and ruck, Cats coach Chris Scott said the “evidence is in” that Blicavs plays his best on the ball.
“It is always a really interesting topic of discussion and debate amongst our coaches and players, most importantly Mark,” Scott said.
“I think it’s safe to say the evidence is in, in terms of his best position. He has always been a hybrid player for us but it has been obvious to us for a number of years that when he is up through the middle of the ground, he has his biggest impact for us.”
Scott said Stanley was “tracking well” to recover from his ankle injury for Saturday’s top-eight clash, and the ruck was running smoothly to start Geelong’s main training on Wednesday morning.
With Ryder, Marshall and King looming, Scott said the ruck minutes would be adjusted to cope with the tall opponents.
THE importance of young Cat Sam De Koning is continuing to grow, as the beanpole defender prepares for his biggest challenge yet against “scary” St Kilda star Max King.
In his first proper season of AFL football – De Koning played one game in 2021 – the 21-year-old was essentially the only tall defender on the park for the Cats last week as teammate Mark Blicavs was called into the ruck.
The young player will renew hostilities with King at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, after the pair played on each other as juniors.
The adaptable De Koning has settled as a lockdown defender who is capable of intercept marking, while also being open to moving around the field, as shown by a stint up forward in round 3 against Collingwood, and a short run in the ruck against the Giants last weekend.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the quiet budding star had been “outstanding” so far this season.
“I am really pleased for him because he has worked really hard, like the rest of our younger players through a horribly interrupted couple of Covid seasons, to force his way into our team,” Scott said.
“Given his size and shape and capability, there was a bit of internal debate about where his best position would be and it is fair to say at times (the debate) has been evenly split between key forward, the ruck and fullback, so for him to get settled in the position where he made his name as a junior player – incidentally playing on guys like Max King – has been really good for him.
“It’s good validation for the recruiting staff and crucial for the team.”
The match-up between King and De Koning, both 21, could have a big bearing on the top-eight clash.
King had the game in his hands when the Cats and Saints last played at Marvel Stadium.
St Kilda kicked nine behinds before booting a goal that night and King ended the night with 1.5, as Geelong pulled away for a 21-point win.
Scott said the defensive plan was standard to stop King – by reducing the quality of St Kilda’s attacks – but the youngster could still take a game from any opposition.
“I couldn’t hold him in high enough regard, it is one of the toughest jobs in football to come in and make an impact as a young key forward and he has clearly done that and he is already an outstanding player,” the coach said of King.
“The mind boggles when you think about where he may well get to in his career. The last time we played them at Marvel (Stadium) he was a real threat and his kicking has improved since then, so it is scary stuff.”
ST KILDA v GEELONG
SATURDAY, 4.35PM MARVEL STADIUM