Category B rookie, Mark Blicavs, was pumped to be part of Geelong’s 2013 campaign and believes new rookie, Micheal Luxford, has the potential to follow suit.

A Category B rookie is a player sourced from a different sporting code who has not been registered in an Australian football competition for the previous three years.

Blicavs admits that he was astounded by the number of games he was given during his first full year at the Cats in 2013, having not kicked a football seriously since his junior footy days.

“The season sort of flew by - and by the end of it I had accumulated 22 games under my belt,” Blicavs told SEN Radio.

“I was rapt and so fortunate just to play one, so to cement myself in the side for that long I was stoked.”

Blicavs concedes that his height and endurance helped him to receive a ticket to the Cattery, as well as the accolades given by his junior football coach.

“I think the engine helped a little bit, also having a bit of height - being 6’5” was a bit of a key as well.”

“Cam Guthrie’s dad, Andrew, used to coach me (in juniors) so he must have wrapped me up big time to the recruiters because they were fairly keen to meet with me.”

Michael Luxford, who was also plucked from the basketball court as a Category B rookie late last year, is also showing significant promise on the footy field according to Blicavs.

For someone who hasn’t played a lot of football, Luxford is proving to be a solid recruit with a good-looking kick.
“He’s going really well.”

“For a short six-foot point guard basketballer he has got some real skill - he has one of the better kicks of the club actually.”

“I’m not sure if he’s played much football in the past but his natural style is very good. He had a couple of training sessions with Geelong’s VFL side before they drafted him and they were rapt with his skills.”


Former junior basketballer Michael Luxford