Expect to see Mark Blicavs bounding up and down the wing for the Cats in 2018.
That’s according to assistant coach Nigel Lappin who said that he and fellow coaches will look to play to the big man’s strengths this season.
“The positions that we’ll use Mark in are ones that utilise his strengths. He is an amazing transition runner for us and he is able to do that when he plays as an outside mid,” Lappin told the Geelong Advertiser.
“He understands the wing role really well and gets back to support the defence, which you need, and he can get forward at the right time to take a mark as a third up jumper.
“So he will play those outside midfield roles for us at times and I know he has been doing a little bit of training this preseason as a link up forward as well, as one of those guys who can help us find a release out of defence, work his opponent over and be able to lead up at the right time.
“He is a handful when he plays in those positions and it is a really tough role, that half forward role, to play these days. You do need guys who can transition up and back and who are really good not just offensively, but who put the work in to make sure that you stay connected in defence, and he does that really well.”
Despite the changes to the third man up rule that saw his hitouts drop significantly in 2017, Lappin also believes Blicavs can play a key ruck role for the club in 2018.
“We feel like Mark is a really good second ruckman and there is potential for Mark to be our number one ruckman some games as well depending on match-ups, but it is hard for him sometimes against the really big monsters,” he said.
“Against some guys, though, he has a real advantage when the ball hits the ground because he is a really good player below his knees.”
Blicavs is expected to be a prototype player for the AFL’s new AFLX format which will debut in February. The format focuses greatly on speed and accuracy of ball movement with players expected to be able to transition from defence to attack and back again several times during play.
