Jack Riewoldt, Ben Brown, Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker and Jesse Hogan.

An imposing list of forwards that includes the current top two contenders in the Coleman Medal race and one of the most sought after free agents in the game.

In 2018 Mark Blicavs has spent 388 minutes matched up against these five big names. He has conceded just three goals.

This is a man spending his first year in defence.

Zach Tuohy was quick to heap the praise on his defensive teammate during the recording of this week’s official Geelong Cats podcast, To the Final Bell.

“It’s phenomenal. For his whole career he’s clearly been able to play a number of positions, but that list, if you didn’t know about it that’s a walk up all-Australian list. Those figures are outrageous,” Tuohy said.

“He’s the least selfish teammate I’ve ever played with. He’s happy to just do his job and if he didn’t get near the pill he wouldn’t care, which for the record isn’t a trait many players have.”

Cameron Ling was also glowing in his praise of Blicavs’ record against the big names down forward.

“That’s very impressive, (even) for a seasoned defender who’d learnt the craft their entire career that’s incredibly impressive,” Ling said.

“For a bloke who’s just learning how to play as a key defender now and has been thrown in the deep end, that’s unbelievably impressive.”

Blicavs for his part, is loving his time down back.

“I’ve been more settled than previous years. I have enjoyed it,” he said.

“The fact (I get to) to keep it simple and play my role (is helpful). I’m on maybe one opponent, I try and beat him and come off them and help my teammates. I have enjoyed that consistency down there.

“It might be my most consistent season and probably my most enjoyable.

“I’ll give the backline a bit of credit – it’s a fun group back there, we’re a bit of a weird and wacky bunch.”

The former 1500m runner has come a long way since being taken in the 2012 rookie draft.

“In my first year I ran 16km for four touches against North Melbourne I reckon, which is four km per touch,” he said.

“There is a big difference between being a good runner and being a good football runner which I found out. I’ve got a bit better at choosing when I’m actually working hard on field and getting involved.”

“I’ve found that as a defender I’ve been able to get rests in game, if we lock it in our forward line I can have a minute off just to sort of stand there and watch the forwards do their work.”