GEELONG defender Mark Blicavs says the Cats will take a team approach to combat the mobile Collingwood forward line in Friday night’s season-opening clash at the MCG.
Blicavs told the Geelong Advertiser the versatility of Geelong’s defence will be key to nullifying a dynamic Magpies forward group.
“They’ve got a really flighty forward line, you could say,” Blicavs said.
“They’ve got Elliott, Stephenson — I was on his AFLX team — and he’s a gun, Cox, De Goey, Mihocek ... they’re going to be really flighty.
Elliott looks set to add yet another dangerous element to the Magpies forward six after failing to play a game in 2018.
Jordan De Goey (ankle) and Jaidyn Stephenson (groin) are expected to be available for selection despite both missing the club’s final JLT hitout against the Blues.
Blicavs says the Geelong’s defenders have the ability to take on multiple opponents, which will be important against the lively Magpie forwards.
“I think the beauty of us, as Geelong’s backline, that we can play tall or small and help each other other. Like against Essendon (in the final JLT Series game), I played on four or five opponents as did ‘Hendo’ (Lachie Henderson), Harry (Taylor) and the smaller blokes.”
We are going to have to adapt. I don’t know who I will start on but we will work it out during the week. - Blicavs on Collingwood forwards
“I suspect we will play their forward line as a team, we are going to have to. They will chop and change a lot, move positions and try to play tricks on us.
“So we can’t get caught focusing on one, we are going to have to focus on the whole forward line. They have six or seven very dangerous players.”
